Parano’s story is certainly one of the more unique in the Championship’s history. As detailed by Rueter in a feature profile after his Young Player of the Year award, the young Argentine came to the United States after being unable to break through in the professional ranks in his home country.

A training encounter with Facundo Erpen – who played in Major League Soccer for D.C. United and the Colorado Rapids in the 2000s and also had a stint at USL First Division club Miami FC – led to an introduction to another former Miami player from that era, current SAFC Head Coach Alen Marcina, in 2019 an assistant coach at the club.

One training stint later, and the rest is history.

So too, now, is Parano’s time in San Antonio, but his story is not unique in the Championship’s past, and certainly should be followed by others in the future. The league itself has provided a platform for talented young American and Canadian players to begin their path in the professional ranks, and you can see the impact both in the progression of key players in the current U.S. Men’s National Teams and Canadian National Teams.

On top of that, the league now also counts top talent from the Concacaf region within its ranks. Eight players named to the 2020 Championship All-League Team have represented their nations on the international stage, with many more likely to feature in the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup this summer.

The Championship’s visibility through landmark media agreements beyond the United States and wider coverage overseas is putting more players in the shop window for clubs around the world to take interest.