Zavier Gozo: Real Salt Lake’s Rising Star to Watch

MLS
By James Ballard
Zavier Gozo rising star
Zavier Gozo rising star shines bright with Real Salt Lake goals. [Image Source: BACKHEELED]

As Real Salt Lake prepares to face Seattle Sounders FC during the nationally televised Walmart Saturday Showdown, rising star Zavier Gozo looks poised to make an even greater impact in the 2025 MLS season. Since scoring his first MLS goal shortly after graduating from high school last May, Gozo has established himself as a key attacking threat, already contributing seven goals this year while showcasing his dynamic abilities.

Gozo’s ascent extends beyond club play; his decisive header and assist in the U.S. U-20 World Cup victory over France last year garnered wide attention. Interest in his talent has reached major European teams including Aston Villa, Atlético Madrid, AS Monaco, and Villarreal CF. One standout moment came with an impressive overhead kick against LAFC at America First Field, a goal that revealed the extraordinary potential of this Salt Lake City native even in difficult moments.

A Powerful Performance Despite Defeat

RSL assistant sporting director Tony Beltran reflected on the LAFC game, noting how Gozo’s spectacular goal during the 4-1 loss highlighted his rising star status.

“We got crushed at home against LAFC,”

Beltran said,

“and I remember thinking, the whole world is going to watch this game, because it’s Son’s first hat trick in MLS, right? And they’re all going to see this ridiculous goal from this 18-year-old kid that grew up around the corner from the stadium.”

Beltran emphasized Gozo’s elite physical skills and the special nature of breaking through as a teenager in a highly competitive environment. This recognition marks Gozo not just as a promising player but as a homegrown talent beginning to make waves at the highest level.

Zavier Gozo
Image of: Zavier Gozo

¡GOLAZO de @realsaltlake!💎 Gozo anota una joya de gol y presiona para remontar el partido. pic.twitter.com/XLD1BtgHMp

Embracing Greater Responsibility With New Role

With increased playing time this season, Zavier Gozo has taken on a larger role within head coach Pablo Mastroeni’s tactical 3-4-2-1 formation, mainly deployed as a right wingback contributing on both ends of the field. Aiming to expand his offensive output, Gozo is focused on sharpening his clinical finishing after recording four goals and three assists last season.

“A big emphasis of improvement that I am focusing on is just being more clinical in the chances that I do create,”

Gozo shared.

“Last preseason, I felt like a little bit on the outside looking in. Now I feel like I have a bigger role in the team and a bigger responsibility. So I feel like in that aspect, it’s definitely different—and just the confidence and the experience I have now is different.”

The trajectory of his career seems predestined in part by his unique name, inspired by his Ivorian father Alban’s admiration for former Chelsea and CF Montréal legend Didier Drogba.

“It was definitely named after him. My dad loves Drogba,”

Gozo revealed with a laugh.

“He’s his favorite player, so that was definitely influenced by him.”

THE @USYNT STRIKES FIRST AGAINST FRANCE 🇺🇸#U20WC pic.twitter.com/jGzvNpF7OX

Family Roots and Early Soccer Beginnings

Raised in a family where soccer was a central part of life, Gozo’s passion blossomed early. His older brother Elijah, also a product of the RSL academy, played collegiate soccer for Utah Valley University under the tutelage of Real Salt Lake icon Kyle Beckerman.

“I started playing when I was 3,”

Zavier said.

“My dad is a coach, and was a coach when I was a young kid. He played himself in Africa and in France.”

Growing up immersed in the sport, Zavier credits his family and early coaches for nurturing both his enthusiasm and skill.

“I don’t think he ever played professionally, but I was growing up around soccer. My older brother played soccer, and obviously I always wanted to be like him and was chasing him kind of throughout my life. So I feel like that helped me maybe improve faster and improve at an accelerated rate.”

He also acknowledged his father’s balanced coaching approach, which combined discipline with support:

“He was on the sideline of all of my games, and during the week, before my games, I would train with him and stuff like that. Really, he coached me up until I was a teenager, and then I really didn’t want to hear what he had to say… He still coaches me now. He watches my games with me and gives me his insight, whether I listen or not!”

Graduated Thursday, scored his first RSL goal today. Not a bad week for Gozo 🙂‍↕️ pic.twitter.com/CHQe9JMUZo

Zavier appreciates that his father never pressured him to pursue soccer, fostering a genuine love for the game. This family support helped him commit fully on his own terms.

Hometown Hero: Breaking New Ground for Salt Lake City

Real Salt Lake has long prioritized youth development, drawing players from across the western United States. However, few local Utah-born players have reached the professional ranks with RSL like Gozo. His rise carries special meaning for the club and community given his deep roots in the Salt Lake City area.

Alban, his father, settled in Utah following a missionary period in Côte d’Ivoire and met Zavier’s mother, Esther, at a Utah Jazz game. Zavier and Elijah were raised in West Valley City and Eagle Mountain, participating in residency programs at the Zions Bank Training Center during their early teens before transitioning back to local life as they grew older.

Zavier spent much of his childhood attending Real Salt Lake matches and remains grounded in his faith as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His relationship with soccer extends into his personal life as well, with his girlfriend Afton Perry representing Brigham Young University’s women’s soccer team, where Gozo often supports her from the sidelines.

“It’s definitely special,” Gozo said of his hometown connection.

“The fact that I get to live my childhood dream of being a professional soccer player with my house down the street, and to be able to be watched by my family and friends every home game and just be local to them, and go home after practice and see my family every day, I’m definitely blessed in that aspect, for sure.”

Go Go Gozo 👊Zavier Gozo’s header helps @RealSaltLake take back the lead from Club América 💫 pic.twitter.com/bTsbx3wq61

Aiming for European Success While Staying Focused on MLS

Although Gozo dreams of testing himself in Europe’s elite leagues, perhaps as soon as the upcoming transfer window, he remains grounded in his commitment to Real Salt Lake. He appreciates the growing attention but prioritizes steady development and consistency at the club level.

“It’s cool to see big clubs coming for you and talking about me. I think it’s definitely an honor,”

he said.

“At the same time, you try not to get caught up in all the noise, and you just want to focus on where you are here now, and I think that’s what I’m doing, and that’s where I’m focused, is Real Salt Lake.”

RSL, a consistent playoff participant for the last five seasons, strengthened its squad this winter by signing new Designated Player Morgan Guilavogui alongside experienced internationals Lukas Engel, Juan Manuel Sanabria, and Stijn Spierings. However, the club’s long-term plan relies heavily on its youth movement, with Gozo and fellow emerging talents such as Diego Luna and Aiden Hezarkhani leading the way.

“The kind of model that we’ve had the last couple years is winning through development,”

Gozo stated.

“Me, Diego, and there’s guys like Aiden that haven’t really broken through yet, but are on the rise. And I feel like there’s so many young guys that have so much talent in this club, and have so much responsibility and opportunity to impact the team in a big way.”

Related Posts

Previous article
San Diego FC Extends Pablo Sisniega’s Contract Through 2027
Next article
Simon Becher Signs New St. Louis CITY Contract Through 2028

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here