The story behind Julian Altobelli's breakout season with TFC 2

One of Toronto FC's brightest young prospects is having a record-breaking season with TFC 2 in MLS NEXT Pro this year.  

Julian Altobelli is riding an incredible scoring streak at the moment, having scored in a club-record eight consecutive games to eclipse the old mark set by former senior team member Jordan Hamilton in 2018. His 10 goals during the 2024 regular season are also the second-most by a TFC 2 player in a single campaign in the club’s nine-year history.   

But this incredible goal-scoring run might not have come to fruition had Altobelli not been sent off earlier in the season. A 3-1 home loss to New York City FC II on June 12 saw Altobelli, TFC's captain, collect a pair of yellow cards, the second one coming late in the first half for simulation inside the 18-yard box in an attempt to win a penalty.  

Before that match, Altobelli, a 21-year-old from Vaughan, Ont., had just one goal in his first 10 appearances (including nine starts) of the season. Since being sent off against New York, he’s been on absolute tear, scoring nine times across 11 MLS NEXT Pro contests.