Yahoo Sports LAFC's Eduard Atuesta on quest to become best midfielder in MLS
Look at the 3252 supporters’ section at any time during an LAFC game and you’ll see various flags waving passionately – Mexican, Korean, Brazilian, American, rainbow, along with the black and gold of the different groups. But one stands out from across Banc of California Stadium because it’s not in motion. It’s clipped onto the glass divider above the section that separates the seats from the concourse.
Amarillo, azul y rojo – the colors that bring joy and a smirk to the face of any Colombian. The flag belongs to Francoise Salavarietta, a season ticket holder, whose parents are from Bogota. She displays it simply because of pride and support.
Down on the field, those same three colors can be spotted on the right wrist of midfielder Eduard Atuesta, the soft-spoken 21-year-old born in Velez, Colombia, who has emerged as a pivotal ingredient to LAFC’s recipe for success.
Christian Ramirez describes his 5-foot-11 teammate as the anchor, and there is no other way to slice it. While league-leading scorer Carlos Vela continues to generate headlines for finding the back of the net, the work of Atuesta and his midfield peers is what truly has LAFC performing at elite levels.
Many times it’s little things that go unnoticed, but this season Atuesta is changing that narrative. The switch has been flipped from the kid that arrived last year and started only 16 games to an established playmaker and indisputable part of the starting XI.
“I knew this had to be my year, and I had to prepare to the maximum because we can fight for a championship this season,” said Atuesta, who dedicated his time off to training. “Personally, I want to become the best midfielder in MLS. I have this vision, been working hard since preseason and the results are showing. Obviously still a lot to go but I’m on a good path and hope to keep it going.”
Whether it’s switching fields through the air like he did to set up Diego Rossi in the opening match vs. Sporting Kansas City, or splitting the defense with terrific through-balls, Atuesta’s skills are now on full display. He already has six assists this year, with the last four all landing perfectly at the cleats of Vela.
Atuesta’s subtle movements on the pitch and vision allow him to filter those accurate passes forward to the goal-scorers. And having an experienced leader like Vela at the receiving end helps, of course.
“He’s different, one of those players that seems like he was born blessed with talent. It’s always going to make it easier playing with someone like him,” Atuesta said.
LAFC’s captain reciprocated the energy.
“Truth is he has stepped up in the sense of we’re putting a lot of responsibility on him because we know he is a great player, and he’s accepting it,” Vela said. “It makes my job easier to have Eduard, Latif [Blessing] and Mark [Anthony Kaye] playing well because I have to worry less about going to get the ball and simply just look for my spots.”
Atuesta’s arrival in 2018 was all about adjusting. He grew up in soccer-crazed Colombia, where the culture revolves around the sport, and got to play professionally for Independiente Medellin, the club he grew up loving.
Atuesta still recalls details from his Medellin debut, which resulted in a 5-1 rout over Envigado. He was part of the championship-winning squad that same year. Impactful performances for one Colombia’s most historic teams helped him gain recognition and earn the chance to serve as captain for the Under-20 Colombian national side at the 2017 South American championship.
He left all that behind — his family and life — to join LAFC, a team which had yet to play a game. While general manager John Thorrington was praising his new player’s attributes, Atuesta was asking around wondering if he made the correct choice. Looking back it now, he considers it the best decision he’s made in his life.
“The great thing about Los Angeles is there are hispanic people all over the place so it makes things a bit easier,” Atuesta told Yahoo Sports. “My shelter was quickly finding a Colombian restaurant. It has saved me on days that I get depressed for missing my family and home cooking.”
The midfielder, who is currently taking classes to improve his English, understands when people speak to him but still has trouble expressing himself. Perhaps the culture shock last year was part of the reason he only had one goal and two assists in his debut season. It’s about building confidence over time, and his production is now glistening with bravado — already tripling the assist count in 14 games.
It’s never really been what shows up on the stat sheet, though. A quote that always stood out came from his grandfather, who he credits for much of his discipline: “A lot of times the best player isn’t the one scoring.”
Since Atuesta was four years old, his abuelito would wake him up at 5 a.m. and they would run together to the field to practice. The lesson wasn’t so much about trying to become the quickest or strongest, it was always a tactical lecture on controlling the game with precise touches. It’s why he’s so comfortable transitioning from being a pesky defender to being the mastermind behind dynamic attacking football.
Despite all the dedication to motivating Atuesta, his grandfather always wanted him to go to college instead of “wasting” his time trying to go pro.
“Little by little I accomplished things and improved my game, which made me feel closer to making this dream come true,” Atuesta told Yahoo Sports. “It was evident that I had to follow the journey and thank God I am here now.”
Just hours after the 2019 MLS-All Star ballot was released, Atuesta is finishing up practice at LAFC’s training facility. He’s asked about being on the initial list, and potentially having a chance to flourish in Orlando vs. Atletico Madrid this summer. Atuesta appreciates the acknowledgment but says his focus is on what LAFC is building.
The following day, like clockwork, he delivers another impeccable ball to Vela for the second goal in a 4-2 win over Montreal.
⬆️⬆️⬇️⬇️⬅️➡️⬅️➡️🅱️🅰️
🎮 MVP Mode Unlocked 🎮
15 goals, 15 games for @11carlosV.#LAFCvMTL 2-0 pic.twitter.com/MMR81bidqm— LAFC (@LAFC) May 25, 2019
“He just controls the tempo of a game. He knows when to settle it down or when to pick a pass,” Ramirez said. “He’s a veteran beyond his years and it’s awesome to see. He’s putting up an all-star kind of year.”
Slowly but surely, Atuesta’s fearlessness, as Kaye calls it, will no longer be a secret to others. With dreams of donning the national team’s jersey again, he’s devoted to making those early morning sessions as a young kid pay off. There is no better place in the league to be.
When he’s playing in front of 22,000 fans at Banc of California Stadium, he knows he can always look north and see those same three colors that represent who he is. And despite Colombia being over 3,000 miles away, Los Angeles has become his home away from home.
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