Paxten Aaronson signed his first pro contract at 16, won the Golden Boot AND the Golden Ball at the 2022 U-20 Concacaf Championship, played a German Cup final in front of 100,000 people in Berlin, and represented the USA at the Paris 2024 Olympics — all before turning 24 years old. Now he’s the man in the middle for the Colorado Rapids. And he wants the pressure.
Host Meghan Klingenberg sits down with the Rapids midfielder for a wide-ranging conversation about the journey to this point. Paxten also opens up about growing up as Brenden Aaronson’s “annoying little brother,” what it felt like to watch his brother live out a home World Cup dream this past summer, and the one story he’ll never let him forget — beating him at golf on his wedding day.
Paxten and the Colorado Rapids take on St. Louis CITY SC in the U.S. Open Cup Semifinals on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. MT on CBS Sports Network and Paramount+.
01:25 – Meghan Klingenberg opens the show
02:35 – Growing up with Brenden: the annoying little brother
06:10 – Watching his brother play a home World Cup
07:03 – The wedding — and beating Brenden at golf
09:03 – Leaving home at 13 for the Philadelphia Union Academy
16:45 – Playing with Alejandro Bedoya and the club’s brand of belief
20:50 – 2022 U-20 Concacaf Golden Boot & Golden Ball
25:24 – Paris 2024: France in Marseille with the U.S. crest on the chest
29:11 – Culture shock in Frankfurt: 100 degrees and no AC
31:25 – Why he came back to MLS
33:14 – Denver Summit, Mile High and a growing soccer city
34:52 – Downtime isn’t free time: recovery, hikes and video games
37:41 – Open Cup semifinal vs. St. Louis — what has to change
44:42 – When do you trust a young player in a knockout game?
More info: http://www.ussoccer.com/podcast
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
