Soccer has been a global behemoth for well over a century, however, it’s only in recent times that the sport has become popular in North America. South of the border, the Americans jumped on the bandwagon back when former England captain David Beckham made the shock move from Real Madrid to LA Galaxy back in 2007. Several impressive performances from the Stars and Stripes on the global stage followed, and the USA reached the knockout stages in back-to-back World Cups in 2010 and 2014.
Canada’s Recent Obsession
Even still, it took a few more years for the obsession to reach the Great White North. It wasn’t until two years ago when the country had its first trip to the FIFA World Cup in 36 years that the sport took the nation by storm. And now, as Canada will be co-hosting the 2026 installment of the tournament alongside the neighboring United States and Mexico, yet another tournament awaits. The early odds provided by online sports betting sites have made Brazil a favorite for glory and Canada an outsider.
But how has this recent obsession come to be? Everyone knows of the country’s two biggest stars, but soccer is a team game. Here are the country’s two biggest ‘other’ soccer sensations.
Cyle Larin
Cyle Larin’s emergence as a soccer star is a journey marked by immense talent and perseverance. Born in Brampton, Ontario, the 28-year-old’s initial sporting interests leaned towards hockey – like most in the country – but his natural ability quickly saw him excel on the soccer field. He honed his craft with various clubs, gaining attention for his goal-scoring ability and physical presence, before becoming the first overall pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft by Orlando City.
The former Sigma Sports sensation made an immediate impact, setting rookie records for goals scored bagging 17 goals in the MLS alone. He netted a further 26 goals in his next two years in Florida, prompting Turkish giants Besiktas to fork out over $2m to secure his services. It took him a while to find his feet in Istanbul but he would do exactly that in the 2020/21 campaign by finding the back of the net on 19 occasions as his side won the Super Lig.
He has since moved on from the Turkish capital and currently plies his trade with Mallorca in La Liga. For his national team, he was one of the stars of the show in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, where he netted 13 goals, the most of any player in the CONCACAF region.
Tajon Buchanan
Also born in Brampton, Tajon Buchanan’s soccer journey began with Syracuse University where he quickly caught the eye of MLS scouts. The tricky winger’s exceptional speed, crossing ability, and versatility on the field have been his trademarks from the outset and saw him drafted by the New England Revolution.
Since signing with the Massachusetts outfit, the 25-year-old has showcased his dynamic playstyle, earning plaudits not only from MLS fans but from those all over the planet. He secured his move to Europe back in 2021 when he signed with Belgian outfit Club Brugge, and he hasn’t looked back since. Back in January, he became the first Canadian in history to sign for Inter Milan, however, he’s yet to make his first appearance for the Nerazzurri.
He too has become a shining light in the Canadian national team setup. He netted a crucial goal against Mexico in the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals and starred in the World Cup qualifying stages, where he scored three times and provided a further three assists to help his team reach the biggest tournament in international football for just the second time in history.
