Teenage Goals: Josh Sargent Has Two Before 19th Birthday

By: Jeff Crandall

For Josh Sargent, the year 2017 was about performing at Youth World Cups. At 17 years old, the O’Fallon, Mo. product picked up the Silver Boot at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Korea Republic before captaining the U-17 side later that year in India.

Now a professional with Werder Bremen, Sargent has continued his goal-scoring form by bagging six goals in 10 matches for the club’s reserve side. While he waits for his first-team debut, the 18-year-old has taken his opportunities with the U.S. Men’s National Team this year, tallying two goals in two starts.

The latest came in Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw with Peru in East Hartford, Conn., when a free kick delivery from Kellyn Acosta found the clinical striker at the top of the area. Having recorded his first goal in his international debut this past May against Bolivia, Sargent became just the fourth MNT player to tally two goals before his 19th birthday and third-youngest to do so (see table below).

MNT Players to Score Before 19th Birthday

Player

Date of Second Goal

Result

Age

Christian Pulisic

Sept. 2, 2016

6-0 W vs. St. Vincent and the Grenadines

17 years, 349 days

Juan Agudelo

March 27, 2011

1-1 D vs. Argentina

18 years, 123 days

Josh Sargent

Oct. 16, 2018

1-1 D vs. Peru

18 years, 238 days

Jozy Altidore

Oct. 11, 2008

6-1 W vs. Cuba

18 years, 339 days