Franco Maldonado thought about quitting soccer as a freshman. Things weren’t going the way he wanted, and he had to decide whether to keep putting in the work. He stuck with it. Last season, the Placer High School senior led the Hillmen with 10 goals. He now competes at the U17 level for Roseville SC in the MLS NEXT Academy Division while maintaining a 3.5 GPA.
Earning the opportunity to play in MLS NEXT stands out as Maldonado’s proudest moment. For the Auburn native, it was a chance to see what those years of work had earned him. He credits his parents as his biggest motivation. He wants to make them proud and show them what their sacrifices have helped him accomplish.
Maldonado can play as a center defensive midfielder or a center attacking midfielder. In a deeper role, he can help defend and move the ball out of pressure. Higher up the field, he looks to set up teammates and get into scoring positions himself. He says his teammates would describe him as someone who keeps the ball moving with one or two touches and encourages them when they’re having a tough game.
This season, Maldonado wants to lead Placer in scoring again and help the Hillmen win league and section titles in Division IV. After high school, he hopes to play college soccer and continue developing as a midfielder. He traces that ambition back to the decision he made as a freshman to keep playing, even when he couldn’t see where it would take him.
