Story by
Fast-rising Loons forward Marcus Caldeira earns first Canadian national team call-up
- Story by
- Fast-rising Loons forward Marcus Caldeira earns first Canadian national team call-up
Marcus Caldeira made his MLS debut in the final eight minutes of the Loons' final game before a two-month break for the World Cup this summer. Since then, the 21-year-old forward has continued to ascend and is now on the verge of earning his first cap for the Canadian men's national team.
The Canadian national team announced Monday that Caldeira has been called up as a replacement for Cyle Larin, who sustained a back injury during the international window. The call-up comes just a day before Canada is set to take on the U.S. men's national team at Allianz Field on Tuesday night. It is just the latest milestone in a year full of them for the fast-rising Mississauga, Ontario native.
Caldeira was the No. 20 overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft in 2024 by the Loons. Instead of immediately joining Minnesota, Caldeira elected to return to West Virginia for two more years of college soccer.
Advertisement
He went on to score 25 goals and added eight assists over 42 games, helping guide the Mountaineers to an NCAA tournament semifinal appearance in 2024 and the Sun Belt title in 2025. Caldeira finished his college career with 42 goals, the third-most in Mountaineers program history.
Upon finally joining the United, Caldeira hit the ground running with MNUFC2 in MLS Next Pro, scoring in just the third minute of his debut on his way to his first hat trick. In just 16 appearances for MNUFC2, Caldeira bagged 10 goals and three assists. His stint with the Loons' second team was short-lived.
After earning his Loons debut in May, Caldeira returned to the Loons squad in August in a pair of substitute appearances during the Leagues Cup. His two-assist performance against Mexican side Atlante FC on August 11, in just 19 minutes of action, earned him another shot in head coach Cameron Knowles' side upon the return to league play.
He didn't disappoint, connecting with Loons star Joaquin Pereyra on another assist only two minutes after coming on the field. The assist helped tie the game for Minnesota United and secure a draw on the road against Real Salt Lake.
Advertisement
Since then, Caldeira has been one of the first names on Knowles' team sheet every week, starting seven of the last eight games, only missing a 4-2 loss in St. Louis. While the Loons have been on an abysmal run of form, winning just one of their last 16 league matches, Caldeira's play has been one of the few bright spots.
In just 516 minutes of action, Caldeira has bagged five goals, good for third most on the team this season behind Kelvin Yeboah (14) and Anthony Markanich (8). The five goals in his first nine appearances equal fan-favorite Christian Ramirez's five goals in his first nine MLS appearances in 2017. The only better start belongs to his current forward partner, Yeboah, who scored seven goals in his first nine appearances for the Loons in 2024.
While it's still an admittedly small sample size, this isn't exactly uncharted territory for the Loons. In fact, Caldeira can look to one of his new Canadian teammates for recent history of what is possible as an in-form forward with Minnesota.
Advertisement
Tani Oluwaseyi was the No. 17 overall pick by the Loons in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft. After just three appearances off the bench in 2023, Oluwaseyi was loaned to USL Championship side San Antonio FC, where he scored 16 goals in 25 appearances during the 2023 season. He then returned to MNUFC in 2024 and went on to score 20 goals over the next two years before being sold to Spanish side Villarreal for a club record fee in 2025.
Oluwaseyi used that Loons form to earn a call-up to the Canadian team and has been a regular fixture in Jesse Marsch's teams over the past couple of years.
The emergency call-up for Caldeira may just be a matter of convenience for Marsch, considering he's already in the area just a day ahead of Canada's next game. However, it is yet another sign of how far the fast-rising Loons star has come in a banner year.
Less than five months after making his professional debut, Caldeira has the chance to represent his country on the same field where his professional journey began.
Advertisement
We are in the age of big media consolidation and content networks. But even with the proliferation of AI, nothing can beat the quality and inherent knowledge of local sports journalism. Our writing room consists of a Wildcat, a Gopher, and even a Mustang. We know the Minnesota towns and the great names that played on its diamonds, courts, fields or rinks. Subscribe NOW to the new Bring Me The Sports newsletter . We would appreciate your readership and support!
This story was originally published by Bring Me The Sports on Oct 6, 2026, where it first appeared in the MN United section. Add Bring Me The Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
