Who is the best player in Illinois 2026 Class?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The PrepSoccer Player State Rankings for Illinois Class of 2026 was released this week. Check out the boys rankings here. Learn more about the ranking process here. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Illinois Class of 2026 is loaded with top-end talent, which includes players in the youth international picture for USA and other countries. Check out the scouting report on a few of the players in the PrepSoccer rankings below. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["104165"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Outside back. Youth National Team Player. Fun player to watch. Elite offensive skills - great passer, calm on the ball, excellent vision. Good instincts on when to join the attack. Decent on the cross - could improve in his driven cross. Solid 1v1 defender.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["105777"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Forward. Saw him play as a winger and at center forward. Dominant type of player on the field. Surprised he isn't getting looks for the youth national team. He is a physical imposing player. He bodies players off the ball with ease. Question for his development will be how he solves the problem when the defender is bigger and faster than him. Right now, he is on cruise control at the U15 level.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["104162"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Peter Field - Goalkeeper. He has pretty good hands. Made some good saves against Minnesota United. Looks comfortable with using his feet and playing off his line. Knock on him is his size. Not the biggest prospect for the position right now.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["104164"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Center midfielder. Box-to-box. Best prospect in the region in that role in this class. Good size for the age and position. He is a skillful player. Not flashy, but he's technically clean and makes good decisions on the ball. Can strike the skin off a ball - takes free kicks for Fire U15. I don't think he has the hype of some of his teammates but the ceiling is just as high for Pineda.rnrnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ernrnu0026nbsp;","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64076a0b175fa"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://streamable.com/2d4844","type":"wp-embed","providerNameSlug":"streamable"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-streamable wp-block-embed-streamable"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://streamable.com/2d4844 </div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='104164' first='Oscar' last='Pineda'] skill check </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["105813"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eDefender. Left center back in a back three. Did well against Chicago Fire. Uses his body in the tackle. Did not shy away from the moment. Was strong in possession and held off players. Showed some good quality on the ball with his passing.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["104214"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eDefender. Center of a back three. Likes to be an off-ball defender - organize and step up if needed. He has the intelligence to be a next level difference-maker.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["104215"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Winger. One of the best attacking talents from that position in the country. Bouncy player, always on the front foot. Gets into the right spots. Efficient finisher with his chances. Part of the Poland National Team ID selection event recently. Quality to be a playing at the international level.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64076a0b176c0"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsAy-zJZD1o","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsAy-zJZD1o </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["105923"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Midfielder. Center. Strong in tackle. Good vision. Had a wonderful assists against Minnesota United FC recently where he won the tackle and immediately picked out a run from Firs splitting the defense. Good all-around playmaker.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["104223"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Midfielder. Always in the right spots. Impactful player at the youth level. Scored a few goals in recent MLS Next games as he seems to be taking over a more prominent role within his side.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64076a0b17743"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://streamable.com/2dfnvz","type":"wp-embed","providerNameSlug":"streamable"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-streamable wp-block-embed-streamable"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://streamable.com/2dfnvz </div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='104223' first='Dominic' last='Firs'] Goal </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["107911"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Center Midfielder. Defensive midfielder. Right footed. Really stood out from the game against Minnesota United. Made some clever passes, combined well with Held. Tends to play the way he is facing. Could improve defensively - he stabbed at the ball with the outside foot and didn't move his body on a couple of tackles. Not sure that will work as the play gets faster. Promising prospect for the position.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64076a851c262"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->