There’s Levels: 4 MLS NEXT Attackers Taking Over Before Cup

FRISCO, Texas - If you're tracking who's actually deciding games heading into MLS NEXT Cup, start with the forwards.   This piece is about four attacking players you'll want to know. These are players who consistently find themselves on the scoresheet, whether it's scoring, creating, or stepping up in big moments. At MLS NEXT FLEX, they didn't just have flashes. They produced.   As the regular season winds down, this is the type of output that separates real impact players from the rest.   One of the most dangerous names on this list might not even be at Cup.   [program_tooltip program_id='283657' first='Houston' last='Dynamo'] FC winger Sebastio Nzita is already operating a level up. He has been involved with the second team and is likely to miss MLS NEXT Cup because of it. That should not take anything away from what he is doing. This is a name to remember and keep an eye on. Players like this do not stay under the radar for long.   There's levels to this. And these four forwards are proving it.    Class of 2029 | Second Team / Academy Player   Sometimes a player makes you stop and just watch.   While covering the event for KS Sports Network, Nzita was that player. Every time he touched the ball, there was confidence and purpose behind it. When I arrived, his team was down 2–1. Within minutes, the game flipped.   He finished with three assists and helped lead a 4–3 comeback win. All three goal contributions came in a stretch where he completely took over the match.   It was not just the numbers. It was the control. He dictated the tempo in big moments and consistently created chances under pressure. For me, he was the most impressive prospect I saw across the games I watched.   His involvement with the second team explains why his level looks different. Social media is starting to pick up on it as well, with his clips gaining traction.    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXrZgGoDqlX/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== </div></figure>      Nico Gonzales is a forward who knows how to produce.   He recorded a hat trick in one game and followed it up with an assist in a 1–0 win over SoCal Reds U-17. He does not need many chances to make an impact. He takes them when they come.   Gonzales is part of the Puerto Rican youth national team pool and is currently uncommitted while speaking with programs. Based on what he is showing, he has options.   There is a real case that he could bypass the college route. If he chooses to go that path, he projects as a player who can reach the MLS level. He also has the type of instincts and decision making that could attract interest beyond that.   His game is simple in the best way. He reads plays early, finds good positions, and finishes.    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXo5QY6Dn2x/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== </div></figure>      Alfredo Cruz made his impact clear.   He scored a hat trick in the game I watched. While the opponent was not the strongest, his movement stood out. His runs in behind were sharp and well timed, and he consistently found space.   Making those runs is one thing. Finishing them is another. He did both, three times.   He helped push his team into a qualifying position on match day two and showed that he can be a focal point in the attack. That carries weight, especially in a strong region like San Diego, where the level of youth talent continues to rise.   There has already been talk about him being pursued for higher-level integration, including pathways connected to [program_tooltip program_id='335141' first='San' last='Diego FC']. Based on this performance, it makes sense.    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXpwoHWDn3g/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== </div></figure>    Consistency is what makes a forward dangerous, and [player_tooltip player_id='293783' first='Alessio' last='Benedetti'] continues to show it.   It feels like every tournament he finds a way to score. He has built a reputation for producing, and he backed it up again.   The [program_tooltip program_id='283671' first='LA' last='Galaxy'] system has a history of developing forwards who combine work rate with end product. Benedetti fits that profile.   He keeps things simple and clinical. He does not overcomplicate chances. He finishes them.   At the end of the day, it is not about how the goal looks. It is about whether it goes in. With Benedetti, you expect it to.    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXpAwYijvRP/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== </div></figure>   Final Thoughts   This is a unique group of forwards that stood out for different reasons.   [player_tooltip player_id='293783' first='Alessio' last='Benedetti'] is the most established name in my region and continues to deliver with consistency. Nico Gonzales might have the highest recruiting upside of the group, with a profile that can take him beyond the college level. Sebastio Nzita is simply gifted. The way he impacts games at his age, especially while already being involved with a second team, puts him on a different track.   Then there is Alfredo Cruz, who may be the most under-the-radar player on this list. Wherever he ends up after [program_tooltip program_id='283295' first='City' last='SC'], they are going to get a player with a real motor. He brings work rate, movement, and a willingness to keep going, which translates at every level.   Different paths, different profiles, same result. They impact games.   There's levels to this. And these forwards are climbing.

FRISCO, Texas - If you're tracking who's actually deciding games heading into MLS NEXT Cup, start with the forwards.