With six minutes left in the Texas Derby between North Texas SC and Houston Dynamo2, Benji Flowers took the first major step in his burgeoning soccer career. At just 14 years, 11 months and 7 days old, he entered the match to make his professional debut in MLS NEXT Pro (MLS\u2019s third-division development league) while still technically a member of FC Dallas\u2019 Academy, the club\u2019s player development arm that produced four members of the United States\u2019 2026 World Cup squad.<\/p>\n
Now four months later, Flowers becomes the youngest player to sign a pro contract with FC Dallas<\/a> \u2013 besting the record held by U.S. international Bryan Reynolds since 2016.<\/p>\n \u201cI’ve always wanted to do this, it\u2019s my hometown club, so it’s an amazing achievement,\u201d Flowers said. \u201cI didn’t know it was going to come this soon, but it’s a moment I\u2019ve dreamt of. I’m thankful to everyone who supported me and I can’t wait to start my career. It’s one step of the ladder and I still want to be the best player to come out of MLS.\u201d<\/p>\n While gauging a 15-year-old\u2019s sporting readiness and potential is an inexact science, both FC Dallas\u2019 coaching staff as well as scouts around the country believe Flowers has the talent and profile to reach the game\u2019s upper echelons. Both\u00a0TopDrawerSoccer<\/a> and PrepSoccer<\/a> \u00a0rate Flowers \u2013 who plays as a forward\/winger \u2013 as the country\u2019s best overall prospect from the Class of 2029.<\/p>\n \u201cBenji’s a really humble kid, he’s really hard working, a good teammate and good person, I think that helps him a lot with his trajectory for the future,\u201d said Chris Hayden, VP of FC Dallas Youth and Boys Academy Director. \u201cHe’s super athletic, really technical, good in duels, really good at taking people on, has improved his goal scoring, and seems to show up in big moments. There\u2019s a lot of upside to his ultimate projection, and I think he’s got a unique combination of technical and athletic ability, and when you find players that have that combination, then there’s a lot of opportunity for them in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n Born in East Texas but raised in Forney (roughly 30 minutes east of Dallas), Flowers comes from a sporting family. His brother, Aaron, plays corner for the University of Oregon\u2019s football team after departing Forney High School as a 4-star recruit who was invited to the 2024 All-American Bowl.<\/p>\n Flowers also enjoys American football but soccer is his one true passion. He fell in love with the game when his parents, searching for a sport for their hyper 4-year-old, found him a local soccer club. He played for various teams in the Forney area before joining Dallas Texans SC at the age of 10. After one year there, Flowers\u2019 talent was spotted by coaches from the FC Dallas Academy.<\/p>\n \u201cMy parents told me one day that this club (FC Dallas) wanted to come see me play, and I went on a trial with them,\u201d Flowers explained. \u201cI think I was playing with the 2009s (two age groups up) when I first joined, and then that’s when I started loving this club. That’s when I joined and started playing with the Academy, and then here we are now.\u201d<\/p>\n After four years in the Academy ranks, Flowers began training full time with North Texas SC and occasionally takes part in FC Dallas scrimmages against players twice his age. His meteoric rise has him high on the wish list for the two national teams he\u2019s eligible for: The United States and Mexico (via his mother). Flowers has been invited to U15 camps by both countries but has so far only featured for the U.S. \u2013 where he\u2019s scored twice in three appearances. Still, there is plenty of time to consider his international future.<\/p>\n \u201cAt this moment I’m not really thinking about it in terms of making a decision,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen I’m older, then I’ll start thinking about it. But it’s amazing to have two wonderful countries as possibilities and hopefully I\u2019m playing for one at the end of the day.\u201d<\/p>\n When dreaming of his future and potential in the game, Flowers looks to two current stars for inspiration: Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior and French ace Kylian Mbappe. Flowers admires their speed and fearlessness with the ball and hopes to emulate their playstyles.<\/p>\n Still, his ultimate dream is to achieve something neither has done to date: to win a Ballon d\u2019Or, the award for the best player in the world.<\/p>\n \u201cMy first dream is to be the best player to come out of MLS. If I ever do that, that\u2019s when I may start dreaming of winning a Ballon d\u2019Or, or something like that,\u201d Flowers said. “I\u2019ve got a long way to go but being in the top five or even the top player in the world would be incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n Even at 15, Flowers isn\u2019t na\u00efve. He\u2019s unafraid of voicing his dreams but understands the amount of work \u2013 and honestly, good fortune \u2013 required to reach them. Still, when watching him play, you just might start believing they\u2019re possible too.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a player whose ability and the way he looks on the field, how he carries himself, he just draws attention,\u201d Hayden said. \u201cSo with that attention comes a lot of potential adversity, and I think he has the personality to handle that. He’s a player that’s unique and memorable. If you see him on the field, you’ll remember him.\u201d<\/p>\n