Mark-Anthony Kaye smiles as he sits at a table under a pop-up canopy next to the LAFC training field on a sunny afternoon. Each decision made across his winding career so far contributed to that smile; the 24-year-old Canadian has a true appreciation for where he finds himself today. But the easy-going grin also masks the ferocity with which Kaye has weaponized memories from his winding trek.



Two teams saw something special in him. One didn’t. He uses the rejection in every match, a reminder to be grateful for where he is, but also motivation to keep striving for something more.



“My path wasn’t the easiest, but I never doubted myself once,” Kaye says, his hands folded in front of him as he leans on the table. “I think that’s the biggest thing. Because doubt can creep in very easily. There’s a lot of things that can happen along the way that can make you not want to play the game anymore. I just needed to keep pushing. Because...