FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – New England Revolution forward and Homegrown Player Nicolas Firmino has been named to the U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s East Conference Best XI for the 2018-19 season, the USSDA announced Monday. Firmino, who became the club’s fifth ever Academy product to sign with the first team in November 2018, earns his second consecutive all-conference selection.
The full list of U.S. Soccer Development Academy year-end award winners is available here. The honors were given out to commemorate the best of the best in each conference at the end of the 10-month campaign.
Firmino, 18, has been one of the Revolution Academy’s most productive attackers over his five seasons with the club. Since joining the Revolution ahead of the 2014-15 USSDA season, the Somerville, Mass. product has tallied more than 40 goals in 100-plus appearances across all levels. Firmino, who has also gone by the nickname “Elio”, reached double-digit tallies for a second straight year, knocking in 10 goals in 18 appearances during the 2018-19 campaign.
Last season, the Mantena, Brazil native posted 16 goals en route to his first USSDA East Conference Best XI nod following the 2017-18 campaign. His Academy contributions over the last three seasons helped the Revs’ oldest age group capture two of the last three U-18/19 Northeast Division titles. Firmino signed his first professional contract with the Revs first team on Nov. 27, 2018, but has yet to make his pro debut. He has been named to the 18-man matchday roster on three occasions, making the bench for the first time on April 13 vs. Atlanta United FC.
New England returns to action on Saturday, July 27, when the Revs will look to match a club-record unbeaten streak of 11 games, set in 2005, against Orlando City SC. The match at Gillette Stadium kicks off at 7:00 p.m. ET and will air locally on NBC Sports Boston, 98.5 The Sports Hub, and 1260 AM Nossa Radio.
