Football is not just about the 90 minutes played on the pitch. True success begins with spotting the right player at the right time and then developing him. But just as important as development is scouting — the art of discovering talent.
Today, the biggest weakness in American soccer is exactly this: a scouting system that is narrow and insufficient.
From UPSL to Europe’s Spotlight
Right here in the Florida/Miami area, two stories unfolded before everyone’s eyes:
- Yan Diomande (2006, winger): He shined at DME Academy and in UPSL. At the time, neither Inter Miami nor Orlando City’s scouting networks noticed him. Leganés picked him up and developed him. After just 10 La Liga matches he made an impression, and today he has joined RB Leipzig for €20 million. At just 18 years old, he has become one of the most expensive American-based youngsters to move to Europe.
- David Rodríguez (2008, goalkeeper): A product of the Florida Wolves system. Living in the same city, he should have easily been on Inter Miami’s radar. Yet MLS scouting overlooked him. FC Cincinnati and later Millonarios U20 in Colombia seized the opportunity. Today, at 17 years old and 1.93m tall, he is being groomed for the Colombian national team.
These two examples alone sum up the problem: MLS clubs fail to see the talent right under their noses, while Europe spots it and turns it into millions.
The Misconception About UPSL
Many still dismiss UPSL as an “amateur” league. The reality is very different: UPSL is one of the best platforms for young players to showcase themselves. Here, 16- to 18-year-olds play against grown men, develop physically, and are forced to prove themselves every single match.
European scouts are already watching UPSL games. Yet most MLS clubs still ignore this league. In truth, UPSL is not the league to be overlooked — it’s the league to be closely watched.
U.S. National Team and the Narrow Talent Pool
In the United States, youth national team selections almost always come from MLS academies. This creates a huge flaw: talented kids who stand out in semi-professional or independent academies are left out completely.
If scouting networks were broader, the U.S. would already have a far richer player pool. But as long as clubs remain locked inside their academy walls, a large part of the country’s potential will never be discovered.
The €20M Reality
Today, Yan Diomande is worth €20 million. How many players in MLS are valued at that level? How many Designated Players (DPs) reach €20 million in market value? Very few. And the irony is this: he grew up in Miami, right in MLS’s backyard, but MLS clubs never spotted him.
This is not just Inter Miami or Orlando City’s loss; it is a loss for the entire league. Because MLS is sitting on a gold mine of talent in its own territory — but by failing to dig, it leaves Europe to cash in.
Conclusion
The journey from 0 to €20M teaches us a clear lesson: Player development is vital, but so is scouting. The United States has one of the deepest youth talent pools in the world. But without a scouting system broad enough to uncover and nurture it, that value will always flow overseas.