FRISCO — FC Dallas’ path to professional soccer is well-paved.

Talented youth players move into the academy, which gives players a top soccer education. They perhaps have a stopover at North Texas SC, the first-year USL League One team meant to give young players professional minutes. Then, they ideally sign for the first team.

Arturo Rodriguez went off-roading.

Rodriguez is a League One MVP finalist and will lead North Texas into the final against Greenville Triumph SC on Saturday at Toyota Stadium. The first time he tried to join the FCD Academy, however, he was rejected.

Shortly after that rejection, his family was driving by fields in Addison, saw a team playing and decided to see if Arturo and his brother David might be able to link up with the club.

“The dad came up and asked if we had teams for Arutro’s age level, and I told him yes,” said Victor Medina, an FC Dallas Academy coach who also coaches youth teams in the area. “That’s how his FC Dallas adventure started.”

Rodriguez played with Medina’s teams outside FC Dallas’ full-time academy for three years.

But Rodriguez’s FCD adventure picked up in earnest after he went to his native Mexico for a tournament with an academy team and stood out against rising stars from teams such as Chivas and Leon. Shortly after joining FC Dallas’ Academy in 2017, he helped FCD become the first MLS team to win Dallas Cup’s prestigious Super Group, scoring the winning goal at Toyota Stadium against Monterrey in the 89th minute.

Now he’s excelling on the same field with FCD’s USL team. Rodriguez is the creative engine that powers NTSC’s scoring machine. He’s tied for the league lead with 10 assists and has seven goals.

Rodriguez credits his teammates, such as Ricardo Pepi and Ronaldo Damus, for finishing the chances he’s creating and said a rising tide lifts all boats in a talented FCD system.

“This club, there’s a lot of talent here. I think there’s more here than in other parts of the country. I think with this team, there now are more opportunities open to young players to be able to transcend to the next level,” he said. “I think you have to take advantage of those opportunities. I think if we win together, it’s because the club is doing things well.”

That may be true, but the 20-year-old’s individual performances are drawing plenty of attention as well.

“In my eyes he’s jumped into MLS category,” North Texas head coach Eric Quill said. “He’s a guy who can contribute in MLS for sure. I’m hopeful his chance will come one day soon.”

So too does Rodriguez, even if his focus in the short-term is fixed solely on Saturday’s title match.

“What I really want and always have dreamed about since I got here is to sign with the first team. It’s a dream, and I’d like to have a chance,” he said. “Right now, I’m trying to focus on the club, but you know that sometimes soccer doesn’t go like you want. If it doesn’t happen, well, I’d have to look at more options. There are options, but my priority is here at this club.”

Rodriguez has played every game this season for NTSC, the only player to do so. Quill wasn’t sure that would be the case, saying he questioned how competitive Rodriguez was and how willing he was to contribute to the team’s defensive efforts in addition to setting up attacks.

The coach’s concerns quickly faded, with Rodriguez putting in a strong effort and, in the eyes of Medina, becoming a more mature person and player after experiencing pro soccer for the first time.

“I think at the start of the year, I was a bit inconsistent in my play, but after several games I started to grow and grow and try to stay at that level,” he said.

“Every game is different, but I’ve had chances, and I think I’ve taken advantage of them. Believe me that I don’t expect to win MVP, but if the effort I’ve put in allows me to win this award, I’d be really thankful to the coaches and the club. It would be a really beautiful moment in my playing career.”

It may have taken Rodriguez a moment to get on it, but his path to the next level is now clear.

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