The Uncertain Future of Emiliano Rigoni After Leaving MLS

For every rising star, there are countless talents left adrift, trapped in a limbo of shaky contracts and hasty decisions. That’s exactly where Emiliano Rigoni finds himself, once a beacon of hope, now closer to being a footnote than a headline.

Rigoni, a forward brimming with skill, will hit the open market on January 1, 2025. That means he’ll be free to negotiate with any club, no strings attached. Sounds like good news, right? Well, not so fast. Being labeled as a “free agent” often raises more questions than it answers.

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Back in May, Rigoni mutually parted ways with Austin FC. Since then, he hasn’t set foot on a soccer field. Nothing. Zip. It’s a silence that echoes loudly, especially in a sport so reliant on rhythm and consistency. What’s even more telling? Before his contract ended, Rigoni had only appeared in 11 matches all year.

When Rigoni arrived in MLS, he was one of those players you’d expect to light it up. A skilled Argentinian, with stints in European clubs, seemingly tailor-made to thrive on American turf. But something just didn’t click. Maybe the tactical setup didn’t suit his style, maybe the pressure was too much, or maybe, and this is the hardest pill to swallow, he simply didn’t live up to the hype.

Every week he spends away from the field chips away at his match fitness, confidence, and, let’s be real, relevance. That’s the tough spot Rigoni is in right now. His name still carries weight, his résumé isn’t shabby, but none of that is enough to convince most clubs, big or small, that he’s worth the gamble. Inactivity leaves a stain that’s hard to scrub off, and time isn’t exactly on his side.

Come January, Rigoni will be a chess piece on the board. Smaller clubs in South America, Asia, or emerging leagues might see him as an intriguing opportunity, an international player with experience who could bring skill and vision to their squad. But it all hinges on how he presents himself.

The clock’s ticking, and Rigoni has a little over a month before officially entering the free-agent pool. This window is make-or-break for him to map out his next steps. If he’s smart, he’ll treat this time like a second chance, training hard, getting ready, and proving he’s still got something special to offer.