Alex
Mendez

U.S. National Teams: Voted 2018 U.S. Soccer Young Male Player of the Year … Enters the World Cup as the USA’s most-experienced player with 15 U-20 caps and one of the team’s leading scorers with eight goals … Won the Golden Ball as the best player at the 2018 Concacaf U-20 Championship, leading the USA to its second confederation title … Led the U-20s in minutes played at the tournament, scoring eight goals and adding six assists … Scored for the U-20 MNT at its most critical junctures at the tournament – bagging a brace in the final against Mexico and scoring the opener in the win vs. Costa Rica that clinched the team’s World Cup berth … Also earned tournament Best XI honors … Made his U-20 debut against France in March 2018 … Appeared in a number of U-17 MNT camps in the lead-up to the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in India … Played in two matches for the U-17s at the 2017 Vaclav Jezek tournament in the Czech Republic, scoring against Iceland … Played with the U-15 Boys’ National Team in Nov. 2015 … Earned his first Youth National Team call-up at the first U.S. Soccer Futures Camp in May 2015, a camp designed for less physically-developed players.

Professional: Signed with Bundesliga club SC Freiburg on Oct. 23, 2018 … Made 13 appearances for Freiburg’s U-19 squad in 2019, scoring three goals … Prior to joining Freiburg, made twelve appearances with LA Galaxy II in 2017 and 2018 … Scored his first professional goal for Galaxy II on July 2, 2018 against Seattle Sounders FC II. 

Youth: Spent three seasons with LA Galaxy in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy … Helped the Galaxy to three straight Academy Championship Finals in his three years with the club … Earned West Conference U-18/19 Best XI honors in 2018 …  Netted five goals during the Galaxy’s six-game playoff run in 2018, playing alongside U-20 MNT teammate Ulysses Llanez … Scored a spectacular free kick in extra time during the Academy Championship Semifinals against Vancouver to send LA to the Final … Prior to joining the Galaxy, played U-14 to U-15 with Chivas USA’s academy … Won the 2013 Dallas Cup with Chivas … Kicked off his youth career with Barcelona USA from U-11 to U-13 … Won three state championships in his three seasons with Barcelona … Started playing soccer at age four.

Personal: His greatest soccer moments thus far include spending preseason with the LA Galaxy first team, winning the U-20 Concacaf Championship against Mexico and being awarded the Golden Ball at the tournament … Loves to listen to music, play Fortnite, watch Netflix and spend time with family and friends … Sister does ballet … Favorite soccer players are Thiago Alcantara and Zinedine Zidane … Had the opportunity to meet Zidane when the U-20s played France in a friendly match in March 2018, where Zidane’s son started in goal for the French … Lists Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho as his biggest athletic inspirations, as they’re “full of greatness” … Favorite movie is Never Back Down, favorite TV show is Prison Break … Loves listening to Drake … Big fan of Chick-fil-a sandwiches.