Alex Freeman scored his third international goal for the USMNT in a World Cup win over Australia. He plays for Villarreal in La Liga. He’s a versatile defender and winger who can slot in at right back, center back, or even further up the pitch. But none of that was ever a sure thing.
His father is Antonio Freeman, a former Green Bay Packers star and Super Bowl winner. And for years, some of the biggest names in NFL history tried to get Alex to play American football instead.
Alex attended American Heritage High School in Plantation, Florida. That school is a football factory. It was coached by Patrick Surtain, the former NFL cornerback, who went 66-10 with three national titles during his time there. The program was crawling with ex-NFL guys. And they all had the same question for Antonio.
“There were a number of guys who I played (in the NFL) with that were around the program,” Antonio Freeman told Michael Silver of The Athletic. “Guys used to call me and say, ‘When are you gonna let Alex come out for the football team?’ Oronde Gadsden (Sr.) called me every year — his son (now with the Los Angeles Chargers) was the star receiver. He said, ‘We could put (Alex) in the slot!’”
But Alex’s mother, Rochelle Hinkle, had a different vision. She dated Antonio when he was at Virginia Tech and watched his NFL career unfold. She wanted her son on the soccer field.
“Eventually, I had to tell them, ‘No, he’s gonna play academy soccer.’ And guess what: Mom was right. Mom’s always right,” Freeman said.
She wasn’t wrong. Alex started in the Orlando City academy, moved to Villarreal in 2026, and signed a contract that runs through 2032. He’s been with the USMNT since 2025. Now he’s playing in a World Cup.
Antonio Freeman was a third-round pick in 1995, a Packers Hall of Famer, and a Super Bowl champ. Alex has a chance to match that hardware on the soccer side. No slot receiver role required.
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