MLSsoccer staff

6. Mauro Diaz

Pos: M | FC Dallas | Age: 23

Last Year in 24U24: N/A
2014 Stats: Matches played: 16 | Goals: 3 | Assists: 3
Castrol Index (as of 9/24/14): #114

The Argentine playmaker dazzled everyone early on, notching three goals and three assists in his first eight matches and being voted Etihad Airways Player of the Month in March. Then he got hurt, underwent knee surgery in May, and Dallas went into a tailspin. He’s still working his way back into FCD’s high-flying rhythm, but the stats don’t lie: Dallas are 10-3-1 when Diaz appears; they’re 4-7-5 when he doesn’t.

What the technical staffers say: "Creative, dynamic player. He's got some pace and he's quick on the ball. But he can't stay healthy. You've got to be on the field if you want to get somewhere. It's not unusual for guys who come to the league to struggle to adjust to the physicality of our league. But he will thrive in this league over time."

What Opta says: Ranks fourth among players under 24 with 2.22 chances created per 90 minutes this season. He also ranks second among players under 24 with 3.23 successful dribbles per 90 minutes. Diaz ranks second in all of MLS with 3.43 fouls suffered per 90 minutes (minimum 500 minutes played).