Mbekezeli Mbokazi

Image: Image:Instagram/@mbokazi

International professional soccer player Mbekezeli Mbokazi

Image: Image: Instagram/@mbokazi

Mbokazi at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Image: Instagram/@mbokazi

The annual list recognises promising players aged 22 and under who are shaping the future of football in North America. For Mbokazi, the recognition is particularly significant: he is the highest-ranked defender on this year’s list and the only South African to feature in the top five.

Currently playing for Chicago Fire FC, Mbokazi has made an impressive transition from South African football to the international game. After rising through the ranks at Orlando Pirates, where he made his first-team debut in December 2024, the young centre-back took his talents to the United States in 2026.

Image:Instagram/@chicagofire

Image: Image:Instagram/@chicagofire

But his rise has never been just about the move. Known affectionately as TLB, short for Tractor-Loader-Backhoe, Mbokazi has built a reputation for his physical strength, defensive ability and composure under pressure. These are qualities that have helped him stand out at club level and earn the trust of Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos.

His journey has also taken him to football's biggest stage. Mbokazi represented South Africa at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, gaining valuable experience against international opposition while helping Bafana Bafana reach the knockout stages. For a player whose professional breakthrough came less than two years ago, the progress has been remarkable.

Now, with a fourth-place finish in the MLS 22 Under 22 rankings, Mbokazi is proving that South African talent can compete and thrive beyond home soil. And while there is still plenty of football ahead of him, one thing is clear: this is a name worth remembering.

From Orlando Pirates to Chicago Fire and the Bafana Bafana jersey, Mbokazi's story is a reminder that sometimes the next generation of sporting greats is already making moves. And at just 21, he is only getting started.