Orlando Soccer Players as Members of the Guardians of the Galaxy

SBNation’s Marvel Week is nearly finished. Here at The Mane Land, we wrote a few Marvel-themed articles, including what Orlando City would look like after the Avengers undo Thanos’ snap and which Marvel characters Orlando City and Orlando Pride players would be. There were a few key players left out of the latter. The reason is simple: they fit perfectly as a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Chris Mueller – Star Lord

While he is not the leader of Orlando City, as Peter Quill is with the Guardians of the Galaxy, Mueller’s leadership skills have certainly sharpened over the years. He always brings with him relentless energy no matter the circumstances. Mueller is also a bit unconventional in his ways, as the 23-year-old is more productive off the bench than when he starts.

Ali Krieger – Gamora

In her biography on marvel.com, Gamora is called “a trained warrior assassin.” She has “superhuman strength” and “when she is without her typical weaponry, she uses whatever is around her.” Krieger fits this description quite nicely, substituting the killing warrior into a professional soccer player (although I’m sure she’d dominate in a fight as well). Krieger also fights for what she believes in and is never afraid of any challenger.

Ruan – Rocket

At 5-foot-7, Ruan is one of the smaller players on the team. However, just like Rocket, his short stature is no weakness. His size allows him to be agile, and he is one of the fastest players in the league. Ruan is never afraid to join in the attack and often is a nightmare for the opposition to handle.  

Benji Michel – Groot

Groot doesn’t do much in the Marvel movies. For the most part, he is just there. Groot gets comedic scenes, but for the majority of the films, he isn’t all that involved. And then, right when everything is about to collapse, he comes out of nowhere and saves the Guardians of the Galaxy. It seems like an awfully similar story to Michel. More than half of his appearances last season were off the bench, and yet he still managed six goals.

Bridget Callahan – Mantis

Bridget Callahan, “the CEO of #SKOPURP Headquarters,” is the Orlando Pride’s version of Mantis. Callahan had no goals nor assists in nine games, which is definitely not the greatest. She certainly isn’t a player that the Pride relies on in the field, though she has been improving. Off the field, the team would not be the same without her. Fans love her, and she brings a smile to almost everyone’s face.

Robin Jansson – Drax

Jansson was the hardest player on the team to find a character that represents him. There are multiple characters that he could be. Yet, it was marvel.com’s description of Drax that sealed his fate: “Drax uses his super strength and combat skills to destroy any enemies of the galaxy. He can overpower multiple assailants and withstand any threat. With impeccably fast reflexes, Drax is agile, able to jump high and move at great speed.” Jansson is one of the best center backs in Orlando City history. While he is not the strongest or most agile player, he does use these skills to expertly stop the opposition. He and Lamine Sané worked great together last season, and his partnership with Antônio Carlos seems no different.