Has TFC's Richie Laryea become a World Cup starter for Canada?
"It's no surprise that Richie's rise has coincided with the rise of the Canadian national team," Toronto FC coach Robin Fraser said.
Richie Laryea hasn’t let a pair of major injuries within a 13-month span slow him down in the least, and both club and country are now benefitting from him rediscovering his top form.
Laryea, 30, was first forced to undergo surgery after suffering a hamstring injury in Toronto FC’s opening match of the 2024 MLS regular season. He was sidelined for over three months and ended up playing just 17 games in all competitions last year.
This season was supposed to be different for Laryea, but it started out in very much the same way. The veteran TFC fullback/wingback was subbed out in the second match of the campaign with a similar hamstring injury that kept him out of action until May 31.
Since returning from his second lengthy injury spell, Laryea has been unplayable for Toronto FC and Canada, reestablishing himself as a key figure in the starting 11 for both sides with his consistent and vibrant performances.
