He's not the first Cuban player in Major League Soccer, but he's probably the best.
Osvaldo Alonso defected to the United States from Cuba in 2007, a path taken by a number of Cuban soccer players over the years. Signed by the Seattle Sounders ahead of that club's inaugural MLS season in 2009, Alonso has been a rock in midfield ever since, and is certainly one of the best defensive midfielders in the league over the past decade.
With his native Cuba hosting his adopted United States in a historic friendly in Havana on Friday (1 pm PT, ESPN2, UniMás), Alonso discussed his feelings about the upcoming match.