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Santino Quaranta (born October 14, 1984) is an American soccer player, who currently plays striker for D.C. United of Major League Soccer.
Quaranta was drafted eighth overall in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft by D.C. United, after having exceptional success with the US U-17 national team academy based in Bradenton, Florida. At 16 years, four months, Quaranta surpassed fellow D.C. player as the youngest player in the history of MLS, a record which would subsequently be taken by another fellow United player, Freddy Adu. Quaranta immediately excelled in MLS, registering five goals and one assist in just 16 games during the 2001 season. Unfortunately, in the subsequent three seasons, Quaranta has been beset by injuries, and his promise has somewhat faded. Although he started all eleven games he played in during the 2002 season, Quaranta missed almost two-thirds of the season with injuries; things did not improve in 2003, when he only played in 12 games, and have not been much better in 2004, when he only played once.
Quaranta has played internationally for the Under-17 and Under-20 United States national soccer teams, but while he was dominant for the U-17's, he was not even able to secure a starting place on the U-20's (although he did play in the 2003 World Youth Championship). Once thought to be one of the United States's most promising young players, his future as a professional soccer player is now very much in doubt.
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