Big clubs hover as forward Jonathan David adds to his Canadian record goals total
TORONTO - Good strikers know where to go, to find a crease in the opposition defence, to create an opportunity. And then the great ones finish.
Witness Jonathan David's second goal in Canada's 4-2 win over Ukraine on Saturday at the Canadian Shield Tournament.
The play started in the Canadian end after a Ukraine miscue. One pass later and the ball found its way to Tajon Buchanan, who beat one would-be tackler, and raced towards the Ukraine goal.
David, to his left, matched him stride for stride.
As Buchanan neared the penalty box, David altered his run and, on an angle, headed to the goalpost nearest Buchanan. The change of direction took him away from goal, but it also gave him position on the Ukraine defender waiting to handle the expected cross.
Instead David nipped in front and when the ball arrived, dipped his head and flicked it backwards, looping the ball into the far corner past the rooted Ukrainian goalkeeper.
'He's a special player,' said Canada midfielder Stephen Eustaquio. 'Probably one of the best players Canada's ever produced. We all are waiting for his next move. I think he has the ability to play in a top-five team, to be honest. So let's see. I'm very happy for him and I hope everything turns out.'
Goals No. 33 and 34, adding to his Canadian men's record total, likely did not go unnoticed. Out of contract at France's Lille, David is in demand from big clubs.
Comfortable in his own skin, David is a cool customer. Former coach John Herdman dubbed him the Iceman.
The 25-year-old from Ottawa lives up to that handle when it comes to the question mark over his football future.
'No list of preferred destinations,' he said after Saturday's win. 'It's always to look at the sporting project, where I can keep getting better.'
'It's exciting, of course, but I'm very calm about it,' he added. 'Just waiting for the moment.'
With captain Alphonso Davies recovering from knee surgery and vice-captain Eustaquio headed to the FIFA Club World Cup, David will lead the team at the Gold Cup later this month.
But wearing the captain's armband or not, David is key to Canada.
The two-time Canada Soccer Player of the Year can score goals and make them, with 16 assists in his 62 appearances. He has played in all 16 of Canada coach Jesse Marsch's games in charge, with eight goals and three assists.
'He's the smartest player I've ever coached,' said Marsch, whose resume includes stops in MLS, England, Austria and Germany. 'And so his understanding of what's happening in the game and how to move around to find the game in the right way, to help the team, I think is at a really high level.
'And the team knows that getting him in the match is really important for us.'
Herdman saw his potential early.
'He's a special talent,' Herdman said in 2019. 'I think he's got big things coming.'
Born in Brooklyn, David was three months old when his family moved to its native Haiti and six when the family came north to Ottawa. He played for Gloucester Dragons Soccer, Ottawa Gloucester SC and Ottawa Internationals Soccer Club, representing Canada at the under-17 level.
A trial with KAA Gent came in 2017 after a scout saw him on video. He went to Belgium twice that year, spending time with the second team before earning a full-time invitation.
After high school in Ottawa, he returned to Europe to focus full time on his soccer. He joined Lille in 2020 and went on to score 109 goals in 231 games, including 25 in 48 appearances this season.
David made his senior international debut in September 2018 in an 8-0 CONCACAF Nations League qualifying win over the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Thirty-two minutes later, he was the youngest Canadian male to score on debut. Five minutes later, he was the fifth player to score twice in his Canada debut.
David lived up to his nickname again with his fourth-minute opener against Ukraine. With the defence ball-watching or worrying about the immense frame of fellow forward Promise David, no relation, an unmarked David ghosted in and headed the ball at goal.
A defender made a desperate goal-line clearance but the ball went right back to David, who controlled his body and knocked it home.
David was reminded after the game that he didn't need to be here, given the risk of getting injured without a contract.
'I love playing soccer,' he said. 'Obviously there is still a risk but in my head I'm not really thinking about that. I'm just trying to enjoy my football, to stay fit and when the moment comes, I'm ready.'
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 8, 2025.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
MLS proposes new Club World Cup prize money payout deemed ‘retaliatory' by players' union
Cristian Roldan #7 of the Seattle Sounders walks onto the field for warm ups before the game against the Minnesota United FC at Lumen Field on June 01, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. Cristian Roldan #7 of the Seattle Sounders walks onto the field for warm ups before the game against the Minnesota United FC at Lumen Field on June 01, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. Photograph:Major League Soccer has submitted a new proposal to its players concerning how bonuses for the Club World Cup will be paid out to the players on clubs participating in the tournament, according to a source familiar with negotiations between the parties who spoke to the Guardian and other outlets on the condition of anonymity to protect their relationships within the game. The MLS Players' Association, the union representing MLS players, later confirmed they had received a proposal. According to the source, the league's offer would see players earn 20% of a team's performance-based prize money at each stage of the tournament with no agreed-upon cap on maximum payout. This means each group of MLS players competing in the tournament would collectively receive $200,000 for a group stage win (from a total prize of $1m), $400,000 for a group stage win (from a total prize of $2m per team, per win), $1.5m for making the Round of 16 (from a total prize of $7.5m) and so on. Advertisement The players' current bonus structure, outlined in the MLSPA's collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the league, allows MLS players to receive half of any prize or participation money awarded to a team participating in an outside tournament, but with a hard cap of $1m. With the Club World Cup's $9.5m participation prize given to MLS teams, players had already maxed out their maximum payout and would have not been entitled to any more money for progress in the tournament. Related: Cristiano Ronaldo will not play at Club World Cup despite 'plenty of invitations' Under the proposed terms, in the unlikely event an MLS team wins the Club World Cup, players on that team would be entitled to split a prize pool that would total up to $23.9m. In their own statement, the MLSPA confirmed that the proposal had been delivered but said that the 20% payout is 'below the international standard,' and also said that the league has attempted to 'strong-arm' the players into CBA waivers that do not regard the Club World Cup. Advertisement The prize money structure was the subject of protest by the Seattle Sounders last weekend, with the squad wearing T-shirts in the warmup reading 'Club World Cup Cash Grab.' The MLSPA later said in a statement that the league had 'failed to bring forward a reasonable proposal.' The source said that MLS had originally planned to propose the 20% arrangement on the following Monday, but then elected to delay delivering the proposal until Friday. The Club World Cup kicks off on 16 June in cities across the United States. The Seattle Sounders, Inter Miami and Los Angeles FC are the three MLS clubs participating in the tournament.
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Sources: Despite new offer, MLS, players not close on Club World Cup bonus deal
Major League Soccer made a proposal to the MLS Players Association that would increase performance-based bonuses in this summer's FIFA Club World Cup, but the two sides don't appear close to an agreement. The league sent the proposal to the league on Friday, according to a source briefed on the discussions between the league and the union. The union responded forcefully to that offer in a statement on Sunday afternoon, calling the league's proposal 'retaliatory' and saying the league had 'ignored months of attempts by players to engage' until making its offer on Friday. Advertisement According to the terms of the current collective bargaining agreement, which was ratified in February 2021, MLS players would be paid a maximum of $1 million in prize money from the highly lucrative tournament. MLS teams will be paid a minimum of $9.55 million for their participation in the Club World Cup. The $1 million cap comes from section 10.8 of the CBA, which defines tournament bonus pools. That section lays out payouts for known tournaments, like the U.S. Open Cup, Concacaf Champions Cup and Leagues Cup. What it didn't account for at the time was a new FIFA-run tournament with unprecedented prize money. The new MLS proposal would give players the $1 million from the $9.55 million participation fee, as agreed in the CBA, but would add another 20 percent to any money earned beyond that — including for wins, draws and advancement to further rounds. In addition, MLS previously decided to pay LAFC players an additional $250,000 in bonuses for its win over Club America in the play-in game to the Club World Cup, which followed Club León's expulsion from the competition. The league also gave an option for owners to convert up to $750,000 of the $9.55 million participation fee into general allocation money, which effectively serves as cap space. All three teams opted to max out that $750,000, according to multiple sources. The Seattle Sounders staged a protest ahead of their game against Minnesota United on June 1 regarding the $1 million cap on the bonuses. According to multiple reports, Sounders owner Adrian Hanauer angrily confronted the team after the game for the protest. The source said the league had been in weeks of discussions with the MLSPA about the bonuses and that MLS communicated to the union on May 31 that it was willing to alter the CBA and expected to send a formal proposal on June 2 regarding the bonus structure. Advertisement The union's statement pushed back heavily both on MLS's offer and on its willingness to engage on the issue in the weeks leading up to the protest. 'MLS spent most of last week making threats and promising retaliation against the MLSPA and players because Seattle players wore T-shirts that expressed frustration over the league's refusal to engage about Club World Cup compensation,' the statement read. 'After ignoring months of attempts by players to engage, late Friday afternoon, less than 48 hours before LAFC and Seattle players were to take the field once again, the league finally provided the PA with their first proposal on this issue. As promised, this proposal was retaliatory in nature.' The union statement outlines the MLS offer as not adding any bonuses to the participation fees paid out by FIFA beyond the $1 million outlined in the CBA. The union statement then classified the 'back-end compensation' of 20% as being 'below the international standard.' An update on Club World Cup Bonuses. MLS spent most of last week making threats and promising retaliation against the MLSPA and players because Seattle players wore t-shirts that expressed frustration over the league's refusal to engage about Club World Cup compensation. More… — MLSPA (@MLSPA) June 8, 2025 In addition, the union said the league is attempting to strong-arm the MLSPA into making concessions around the CBA waivers that have been issued the past several seasons regarding offseason timing for teams participating in the Concacaf Champions Cup. 'The timing, substance, and retaliatory nature of the proposal sends a clear message: MLS does not respect or value players' efforts with regard to this tournament,' the MLSPA statement reads. 'Although not surprised, the players and the MLSPA are deeply disappointed by this message. Advertisement 'MLS's refusal to negotiate in good faith has created a major distraction for the players who should be focusing on preparing for a major international competition. However, players will not be silenced by threats from MLS. The players remain united in using their collective voice and demanding a fair share of the rewards earned from their hard work.' It is not clear what 'international standard' the MLSPA is using in its appraisal of MLS's offer. There have been few public details about what other teams are paying players for their participation in the tournament. The source said the MLSPA communicated a desire for players to receive 40 percent of all money distributed to MLS teams by FIFA, including the participation fee and any performance payments for results or advancement in the tournament. The discussions come at a delicate time for the league as it weighs major changes at the board level, including flipping the calendar to a fall-spring format. That change would require player approval and changes to the CBA. With the relationship between the league and the union seeming increasingly frosty, it could complicate those larger discussions. Inter Miami opens the Club World Cup against Al Ahly on June 14.
Hamilton Spectator
4 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Big clubs hover as forward Jonathan David adds to his Canadian record goals total
TORONTO - Good strikers know where to go, to find a crease in the opposition defence, to create an opportunity. And then the great ones finish. Witness Jonathan David's second goal in Canada's 4-2 win over Ukraine on Saturday at the Canadian Shield Tournament. The play started in the Canadian end after a Ukraine miscue. One pass later and the ball found its way to Tajon Buchanan, who beat one would-be tackler, and raced towards the Ukraine goal. David, to his left, matched him stride for stride. As Buchanan neared the penalty box, David altered his run and, on an angle, headed to the goalpost nearest Buchanan. The change of direction took him away from goal, but it also gave him position on the Ukraine defender waiting to handle the expected cross. Instead David nipped in front and when the ball arrived, dipped his head and flicked it backwards, looping the ball into the far corner past the rooted Ukrainian goalkeeper. 'He's a special player,' said Canada midfielder Stephen Eustaquio. 'Probably one of the best players Canada's ever produced. We all are waiting for his next move. I think he has the ability to play in a top-five team, to be honest. So let's see. I'm very happy for him and I hope everything turns out.' Goals No. 33 and 34, adding to his Canadian men's record total, likely did not go unnoticed. Out of contract at France's Lille, David is in demand from big clubs. Comfortable in his own skin, David is a cool customer. Former coach John Herdman dubbed him the Iceman. The 25-year-old from Ottawa lives up to that handle when it comes to the question mark over his football future. 'No list of preferred destinations,' he said after Saturday's win. 'It's always to look at the sporting project, where I can keep getting better.' 'It's exciting, of course, but I'm very calm about it,' he added. 'Just waiting for the moment.' With captain Alphonso Davies recovering from knee surgery and vice-captain Eustaquio headed to the FIFA Club World Cup, David will lead the team at the Gold Cup later this month. But wearing the captain's armband or not, David is key to Canada. The two-time Canada Soccer Player of the Year can score goals and make them, with 16 assists in his 62 appearances. He has played in all 16 of Canada coach Jesse Marsch's games in charge, with eight goals and three assists. 'He's the smartest player I've ever coached,' said Marsch, whose resume includes stops in MLS, England, Austria and Germany. 'And so his understanding of what's happening in the game and how to move around to find the game in the right way, to help the team, I think is at a really high level. 'And the team knows that getting him in the match is really important for us.' Herdman saw his potential early. 'He's a special talent,' Herdman said in 2019. 'I think he's got big things coming.' Born in Brooklyn, David was three months old when his family moved to its native Haiti and six when the family came north to Ottawa. He played for Gloucester Dragons Soccer, Ottawa Gloucester SC and Ottawa Internationals Soccer Club, representing Canada at the under-17 level. A trial with KAA Gent came in 2017 after a scout saw him on video. He went to Belgium twice that year, spending time with the second team before earning a full-time invitation. After high school in Ottawa, he returned to Europe to focus full time on his soccer. He joined Lille in 2020 and went on to score 109 goals in 231 games, including 25 in 48 appearances this season. David made his senior international debut in September 2018 in an 8-0 CONCACAF Nations League qualifying win over the U.S. Virgin Islands. Thirty-two minutes later, he was the youngest Canadian male to score on debut. Five minutes later, he was the fifth player to score twice in his Canada debut. David lived up to his nickname again with his fourth-minute opener against Ukraine. With the defence ball-watching or worrying about the immense frame of fellow forward Promise David, no relation, an unmarked David ghosted in and headed the ball at goal. A defender made a desperate goal-line clearance but the ball went right back to David, who controlled his body and knocked it home. David was reminded after the game that he didn't need to be here, given the risk of getting injured without a contract. 'I love playing soccer,' he said. 'Obviously there is still a risk but in my head I'm not really thinking about that. I'm just trying to enjoy my football, to stay fit and when the moment comes, I'm ready.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 8, 2025.
