Despite having completed a high-flying performance, including a goal, the presentation of
Lionel Messi
and
Inter Miami
for the Concachampions had the owner of the match on the rival side: the sprinter
Jacob Shaffelburg
.
Beyond
Las Garzas spoiling the
Nashville
party
by scoring the equalizer at the end thanks to
Luis Suárez
, the Canadian striker was the author of two stellar achievements that left all spectators speechless.
The curiosity of his style of play was focused on the speed he printed in each hit.
But you only have to review his resume to find an answer.
At
24 years old
, Shaffelburg is one of the undisputed figures of Nashville, one of the most competitive teams in American soccer.
And his coach Gary Smith knows how to make the most of the qualities of his spicy left winger.
Jacob's athletic abilities
are perfectly combined with great ability with the ball under his feet.
He made it clear when the clock was just three minutes into the game: he made it 1-0 with a lethal left foot shot.
Then, a minute into the second half he again upset Messi and company with a right-footed shot from outside the area that went into the corner.
Even in the midst of his goals, he caused such an imbalance on the wing that he was on the verge of the Argentine
Federico Redondo
, who was making his debut with Inter Miami, seeing the red card when he elbowed him as a tool to stop Nashville's attack.
INFERNAL goal from Shaffelburg for his double and the 2-0 against Messi's Inter Miami!
📺 The CONCACAF Champions Cup, by #StarPlusLA pic.twitter.com/P9Hr9MolBj
— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) March 8, 2024
Automatically, the question that arose in more than one spectator while watching the game was;
Who is this player that drives the Inter Miami defense crazy?
However, Internet searches did not make the athlete's secret clear.
Jacob can be considered a
weirdo
within the beautiful sport if you review the career that ended up leading him to win the MVP award in a match in which he shared the court with Messi.
Although he is at the age of an experienced player, unlike many players who take their first steps through youth teams at a young age,
Shaffelburg's relationship with football was born just five years ago
.
Yes, the Canadian who caught the spotlight in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Concachampions
joined his first team in 2018
.
He did it at his university club,
TFC Academy
.
There, only a year and a half of experience was enough for
Toronto FC
to notice him and decide to hire him.
However, Shaffelburg's relationship with sports does go back to his childhood.
He had dedicated his entire life to athletics, where he became champion
.
However, for a time he combined it with football, his other passion.
And finally, he leaned towards his love of the ball when he had to choose in which sport he would develop his professional career.
The countless races and tests he competed in during his youth are an advantage that the forward has.
From there we can explain the
speed and resistance
that Jacob expresses in each game with Nashville.
And it was this Wednesday night when those led by Gerardo
Tata
Martino suffered it.
Shaffelburg in one of the many track races he participated in at the university.
Photo: @jacobshaff
In keeping with his athletic qualities, Jacob's career advanced at high speed.
The 18 months playing at an amateur level were enough proof to adapt to professional football.
His performance in the MLS was outstanding from the first minute
.
He became a fundamental piece in helping his team reach the finals of the MLS Cup and the Canadian championship.
And with only one season as a professional,
It would be in mid-2020 when Jacob received
the first call to join a call for his National Team
.
Likewise, the forward was not part of the list of those called up for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, although all signs indicate that he will be present in 2026. He has
already played seven games with the Canada shirt
, one of the venues for the next edition of the World Cup, and is positioned as one of the most destabilizing attackers in his nation.
Shaffelburg with his MVP trophy after having an almost perfect night.
Photo: @NashvilleSC.
At the end of 2022 was when Shaffelburg left Toronto to land in Nashville
and become a key piece of the Tennessee state team.
Perhaps it is no coincidence that when Lucho Suárez's equalizer came, Jacob had already left the field.
However, no one is going to take away from his CV the milestone of being named a figure in an international match over a certain Lionel Messi and other stars from the world of football.
Next Wednesday they will meet again for the second leg, where the MVP award, surprisingly, will no longer have the Argentine star as the only candidate.