SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — Team USA will debut at the World Cup Monday afternoon, and one of South Jersey’s own will represent.
Brenden Aaronson, 22, known as “Medford Messi,” spent the past few years with Leeds United in the Premier League following a stint with the Philadelphia Union.
His hometown friends couldn’t be happier to see No. 11 take the pitch.
“I think this USA team is really good,” praised JD Wagner, a longtime friend of Aaronson. He and his brother grew up playing soccer with Aaronson and his younger brother, Paxten, who played the past few seasons for the Union.
“[The team is] really young and they’re really exciting to watch,” he continued. “The thing that everybody knows about Brenden is that he’s going to be the hardest worker on the field, no matter what.”
Wagner just wrapped up his senior year playing soccer at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, alongside his brother, Zach.
The Wagners’ father, Drew, coached all the boys as kids. Now, he’s coaching the Aaronsons’ sister, Jaden, in girls soccer at Shawnee High School.
“Talent only takes you so far,” he said. “You’ve got to have that drive, and the Aaronson kids definitely have that.”
The U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team will need plenty of drive to succeed in the tournament in Qatar this year. The squad did not qualify for the 2018 cup and only advanced as far as the quarterfinals once in history, two decades ago. Odds on favorites this year include Brazil, France and Argentina.
JD said Brenden, a midfielder, has been preparing for this moment from the time he was 6 years old.
“He’ll run the full 90 minutes,” JD predicted. “And when he gets on the ball, good things happen. He’s a super creative player; he takes people on one-on-one. He doesn’t lose the ball much, and he creates chances.
“To finally achieve that dream, it’s unbelievable. I’m so happy for him.”
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