New FC Dallas midfielder Abel Aguilar is a lot like other players who have joined Oscar Pareja's team over the years. He's from South America. He is a player whom the organization has watched for some time. He's a player the team hopes can pick up some minutes and help in the playoffs.

To see the difference between Aguilar and other midseason arrivals, you have to look down at his boots.

There, on the back of his Nike Tiempos, is the yellow, blue and red tricolor of the Colombian flag in a triangular shape, the only indication that Aguilar just played at the 2018 World Cup.

His tournament was cut short because of an adductor injury suffered in the Cafeteros' group match against Poland. Still, it's remarkable that just two months after playing in the sport's most important tournament, he has quietly arrived in North Texas.

"I was evaluating some other things, but ultimately we were able to reach an agreement here. That was something I had in mind, coming to MLS," said Aguilar, who has also played in Spain's La Liga as well as France's Ligue 1. "I'd been thinking about it for a while and, honestly, after I saw the possibility, I did everything possible to come here because of a lot of reasons, the club as well. I know we're fighting for titles. That's also important.

(L to R) Colombia's midfielder Abel Aguilar, Colombia's defender Yerry Mina, Colombia's forward Juan Cuadrado and Colombia's midfielder James Rodriguez take part in a training session in Kazan, on June 21, 2018, during the Russia 2018 World Cup football tournament. / AFP PHOTO / LUIS ACOSTALUIS ACOSTA/AFP/Getty Images (LUIS ACOSTA / Getty Images)

"At the end of the day, I think things came together well, the club played its part to get me here and that's a bit of how it all came together."

That willingness to leave a comfortable situation in Colombia, where his contract was up at Deportivo Cali, for a new challenge is something Pareja, FCD's head coach and himself native of Colombia, hopes stands out to his young roster.

"Playing in Spain and France is not an easy thing," Pareja said. "He's also played in World Cups. Just bringing that experience into our locker room at this stage of the season is healthy for us, and also having the opportunity to line him up into our plans on a daily basis and put him into the equation for the youngsters to see that he chose to come ... and be part of the team.

"In that regard, I admire Abel's commitment because he has no guarantees whatsoever. What he has is pure desire."

Simply having desire and World Cup experience won't immediately slot the 33-year-old into the FCD starting lineup. Aguilar plays in the central midfield, where Carlos Gruezo and Victor Ulloa have worked well together, but he'll push Ulloa for the starting role and also can come in toward the end of matches like he did in his debut last week. Aguilar played the final 13 minutes of a 4-2 victory over the Houston Dynamo.

He also should help FCD off the field. With more than 945,000 followers on Twitter and another 268,000 on Instagram, his social media audiences dwarf that of the club (which has around 157,000 Twitter followers and 74,200 on Instagram).

FC Dallas Training FRISCO, TX - AUG 28: Abel Aguilar of FC Dallas warming up during training session at Toyota Stadium on August 28, 2018 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Omar Vega / Al Dia Dallas) (Omar Vega)

Boosting the reputation of both FCD and the league in Colombia was something that, "really drew my attention," Aguilar said, "because maybe there people don't notice the work as much, they don't notice the way in which MLS clubs work. Sincerely, it was a pleasant surprise because I think it's a club that has everything, that manages a lot of things well and for me it's a pleasure to be here. Since I've arrived, everyone has helped me to adapt really well, the people around the team, the people in the city."

The young teammates he's joining are excited to have him. Aguilar is a player who 23-year-old Colombian midfielder Santiago Mosquera watched at a distance for years and now has a chance to work with on a daily basis.

"Abel is a reference who has played his career at a high level. That helped him consolidate his position in the national team, where there always have been good players," Mosquera said. "There was a base, and he was always there. That requires work, and he's done really good things in Colombia."

Now, he's looking to do more good things in MLS. Aguilar's current deal keeps him with FCD only through the end of the season, so he's short on time to transmit his experience to younger players. It's not unlike the situation in 2016 when FCD brought in Guatemala legend Carlos Ruiz for the stretch run. The veteran played only sporadically but came through with a big goal that helped the club win a trophy.

"It's a good example with Carlos Ruiz's exercise here when he came," Pareja said. "We knew the purpose, he knew the role also and in a short time he brought us a lot of stuff. He scored the goal that qualified us for the Supporters' Shield title. That's what [experienced players] bring to the club is that little something that just distinguishes them from others sometimes, and that's what makes them very valuable.

"Hopefully Abel works that way, too."

Twitter: @ArnoldcommaJon