It was a special moment for a player, for his teammates – and for his country.
On Thursday, Cyle Larin became the first Canadian ever selected No. 1 overall in the MLS SuperDraft, when he was picked by Orlando City SC. But Larin wasn’t at the draft; instead, he was surrounded by Canadian teammates, huddled around a laptop in Montego Bay, Jamaica, several hours before they played El Salvador at the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship.
“My heart was beating really fast,” Larin said in an exclusive chat with MLSsoccer.com. “They were behind me and just saying funny things. It made me feel better and more comfortable, because a lot of them I knew when I was younger.”
Before MLS Commissioner Don Garber could even finish saying Larin’s name, his Canadian teammates began a raucous celebration all around him.
“It felt good to have them behind me, to have my back and celebrate with me, just celebrating with Canadian players after being drafted No. 1 as a Canadian.”
But that designation, in any sport, brings with it a certain degree of expectation. Larin has seen the hype that’s followed Anthony Bennett and Andrew Wiggins, a pair of Canadians who’ve gone first overall in the last two NBA drafts. But the 19-year-old from Brampton, Ontario isn’t letting it get to him.
“I don’t feel pressure, I just feel excited,” said Larin. “As a Canadian and being drafted No. 1, it’s a good thing for Canadians. It’s good to see there’s talent in Canadian soccer, and even in other sports too.”
In the same way that Bennett and Wiggins are heralding a new era for Canadian basketball, many are holding out hope that a new generation of players like Larin and Doneil Henry – who recently signed for West Ham United in the English Premier League – can have the same impact for Canadian soccer.
“I want to show people that Canada’s a really good soccer country and we’re starting to be on the map,” Larin said. “I want to show that we can play and hopefully make it to the World Cup and do good things. It’s important for people to see that, and young kids to see that and support us.”
Larin has already earned three caps with Canada’s senior national team, following his standout performance in two years at the University of Connecticut (23 goals in 39 games). It’s that attacking prowess that earned him interest from Orlando City, a club that’s already made plenty of waves as it heads into its first season in MLS.
But while Larin-to-Orlando has been part of the pre-draft narrative for months, it was hardly a fait accompli. In December, questions arose about whether Larin – who could have returned to UConn, and had also attracted interest from clubs in Europe – would actually enter the draft.
But as 2014 came to an end, Larin made up his mind; in January, he signed a Generation adidas contract and his status as a Canadian trailblazer seemed assured.
“I think it was just the right time to start my professional career and I had a gut feeling I wanted to start my career in MLS,” Larin said. “I think I’ll do well there.”
Of course, the opportunity to play alongside a former FIFA World Player of the Year probably helped cement the decision, too.
“Playing alongside Kaka, I watched him when I was younger, and now I feel really good. I want to start playing with him,” Larin said. “I think it will be a good time for the team and a good time for me, and I think we can win something and do something really big in the season.”
Now that he knows his destination, Larin can begin focusing on the start of his professional career, and doing what he loves doing most of all—playing the game.
“It’s been a long time that I’ve been waiting for this moment and I just want to start playing with the players and start developing at the club.”
Daniel Squizzato covers the Canadian national team for MLSsoccer.com.
