Whenever a talented young player enjoys a breakthrough debut season, the worry is that it will be followed by a challenging second year.

Whether a “sophomore slump” or a “reality check,” it’s tough for young players to maintain the upward trajectory of a solid first year. When players buck that trend, it elevates their value and expectations significantly.

We are still in the early stages of 2026, but Luca Bombino is off to a strong start in his second full season at the first team level. The left back for San Diego FC proved to be a key part of the club’s success in its inaugural season with 2,531 minutes on the field helping the club finish first in the Western Conference regular season and advance to the conference final.

Now in his second season, Bombino, 19, started both legs and scored in San Diego’s 4-2 aggregate win over UNAM Pumas in the first round of the Concacaf Champions Cup.

He then started each of San Diego’s first three games of the MLS season – three wins with a combined score of 8-0.

“It’s a unique situation because you don’t really start preseason with a Champions League fixture,” Bombino told Soccer America. “The group did really well to flip the switch going from vacation mode to preseason, really grinding every day for three weeks. Last year was great in terms of personal improvement and with game time but I know that‘s only the beginning. This year is my year to prove everything last year wasn’t just a one-off. Every day in training and in these next matches I’m going to be looking to push the standard.”

“That first round against Pumas was great, not just because it gave us a first taste of what the competition is like, but also what it’s like to play at that level of altitude and that intensity,” he added. “Although Toluca will be higher, it’s just about us being us. We should have no problems with our identity.”

Overall, it has been a perfect start for Bombino and San Diego FC, but the hardest work is still to come. Its schedule in MLS play will get harder and the team will face a very talented Toluca squad next in the round of 16 of the Champions Cup with the away leg played at nearly 9,000 feet above sea level.