The good news is that Rodolfo Aloko’s celebrations are improving.
His teammates teased him after a shifty running effort following an Oct. 17 goal that helped Charlotte FC earn a road draw with the Philadelphia Union.
“I’m used to deciding my celebrate in the moment. I didn’t expect to do this celebration,” Aloko told USA TODAY Sports. It showed.
This weekend, after smashing a volley past Orlando City goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, Aloko ran into space, pulled off a back handspring, then a backflip and stood pointing to the air before his teammates surrounded him.
Break out the flips, Rodolfo Aloko 🤸♂️
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 31, 2026
Charlotte is rolling, 4-0. pic.twitter.com/ffbAmKgd06
Not a bad upgrade.
Tremendous improvement has been the theme of the year for Aloko. A 19-year-old
from the small West African country of Benin, Aloko thought this year might see a season of steady growth with Crown Legacy, Charlotte’s MLS Next Pro team. Instead, he’s doing backflips on the way to the MLS playoffs and preparing for his second showdown with Lionel Messi.
What was it like to play in Lionel Messi's farewell game?
Benin was perhaps an unlikely opponent for Lionel Messi's last match as an Argentina player, but the African team was more than willing to turn up and try to be more than just the supporting cast in the legend's last tango. Aloko got the start from Benin manager Gernot Rohr and impressed in 89 minutes of the 3-0 loss.
“It was my first time to watch and to play against Messi. It was a big moment to see him, to play against him,” Aloko said. “All my teammates, we enjoyed it.”
“It was a really good moment. Every day, people came in front of the hotel and were happy to see us play against Messi,” he continued. “He’s like God there. He’s very appreciated.”
While millions more eyeballs were focused on Aloko’s match with Messi and Co., the most important match of his young national team career came days earlier. After Benin went to the round of 16 at the latest African Cup of Nations, the expectation is for the team to return and improve on that showing.
Aloko already has been part of the Benin roster for the 2025 AFCON and made contributions to the squad, but he is looking to be a bigger piece of what the Cheetahs do looking toward the 2027 continental championship and perhaps even the 2030 World Cup. He got off to a great start with a double against Mauritania in the second match of AFCON qualification, a 2-1 win before heading off to give Messi his farewell.
The first goal came on a sensational shot from outside the area, while the second saw Aloko fool defenders and pop up at the back post with a quick run to finish off a cross they had decided he wouldn't be able to reach.
"As a new player? When they give you a lot of chances? I'm so proud of myself," Aloko said. "It's what I (dreamed) of as a child, to play against big names in football. I say, 'Thank God' and then continue to work hard to help my teammates. That's what I am looking for every day."
Aloko now could be set to see the big-name Argentine again, with Charlotte traveling to face Inter Miami on Decision Day, the final day of the MLS regular season. There could be a best-of-three playoff series between the teams or a meeting in the conference semifinals or finals as well.
Will Rodolfo Aloko sign for a top European team?
Before thinking of giving Messi another farewell, Aloko is thinking about tomorrow.
He has been thrilled to see his improvement shepherded along this season by the staff at Crown Legacy and Charlotte FC manager Dean Smith, who coached Aston Villa in the Premier League. But he also knows reaching the level of a Messi or another superstar won't happen overnight.
"I'm still learning. This is my first year professional. My coach is a big coach from England. I'm just looking to grow up more, to be a really, really great player," he said. "Playing in Europe, Champions League is my mindset. But everything is about working hard every day, being humble, taking something from the coach. I'm still learning the tactics on the field.
"Every player wants to win a lot of trophies in your career. For me, that's the most important thing as I create my path."
The path has led him to Charlotte, a southern city where Aloko feels the hospitality and enjoys the surprise conversations folks strike up with him around town.
"Here, everyone wants to talk with you, to know a lot about you. If you go somewhere, to the supermarket, you don't have problems, you can talk to anyone," he said. "I really love that because I love talking to people, even if there are no problems just talk to someone to feel not sad. It gives me more confidence.
"The coach is like, I would say, my second father here. My teammates I love because they always advise me and give me confidence. I think all of what I'm doing now is because of my teammates, staff, the coach from Crown Legacy. I'm really happy to meet them."
They are happy to have him, too. Charlotte heads into Decision Day on the back of two lopsided wins, excelling in the type of transition moments where Aloko thrives. Other wingers are making their case to Smith to start as well. Liel Abada scored a hat trick against CF Montreal on Oct. 28 after coming in for Aloko. Allan Saint-Maximin had a strange day in the win over Orlando - scoring but missing a penalty and seeing red - but has been the Wilfried Zaha replacement.
Seeing players like Messi, Saint-Maximin, Zaha and others up close has made Aloko want to be the type of star kids grow up watching highlights of.
"They bring something to the team. I'm so excited. I love that and want to be like them," he said. "That's what I'm trying to do up to today, to give my best every time, make a difference and then they can see I came in with big energy and made a big impact on the game every time."
If he keeps it up, he'll need to get better at planning those celebrations.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ahead of rematch with Messi, Charlotte FC's Rodolfo Aloko hoping to give team a jolt
