Homegrown

Atlanta's George Bello joins list of youngest starters in MLS history

George Bello - Atlanta United Homegrown - on first MLS start

George Bello entered the record books on his MLS debut on Saturday night, becoming one of the youngest players in league history to start a match as well as the youngest to start an MLS game in Atlanta United's short existence. 

Handed ATLUTD's left back role in their 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake, the 16-year-old Homegrown more than held his own, helping the Five Stripes defense notch their eighth clean sheet of the league campaign, motoring forward to join the attack and earning a standing ovation from the 70,000-plus crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. 

He even got some PDA from head coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino:

Below is a rundown of the company Bello is in, historically speaking.


8 Youngest Starters in MLS History

Player
Team
Age
Freddy Adu
D.C. United
14 years, 334 days
Alphonso Davies
Whitecaps FC
15 years, 327 days
Gianluca Busio
Sporting KC
16 years, 68 days
Nikolas Besagno
RSL
16 years, 201 days
Diego Fagundez
NE Revolution
16 years, 229 days
Eddie Gaven
MetroStars
16 years, 232 days
Santino Quaranta
D.C. United
16 years, 242 days
George Bello
Atlanta United
16 years, 243 days