On episode 210 of “Listen In With KNN” sports talk radio/podcast show presented by FOX Sports Radio 1340AM/96.9 FM, executive producer and host Kelsey Nicole Nelson welcomed special guest Besiktas and Canadian star Cyle Larin to the show.

Larin was born in Ontario, Canada, and was selected as the first pick in the 2015 Major League Soccer SuperDraft by the Orlando City SC, the team’s first-ever draft pick. He was awarded the 2015 MLS Rookie of the Year title and represented the team at the MLS All-Star Game in 2016. Larin played for three seasons in Orlando City where he led the team in goals all three years.

In 2018, Larin signed a deal with Besiktas J.K., one of the most respected clubs in Turkey. Larin and the team were the 2021 Süper Lig football champions. “It was a great time. We had a very good team and this year it hasn’t gone so well. We were up and down the table, and now we want to finish strong,” said Larin.

Vodafone Park Arena, the home of Besiktas located in Istanbul, Turkey, has a 42,590 person capacity which helps fuel the team to play their best. “It’s the loudest and there’s a lot of passion that goes into those games,” said Larin.

Larin spoke about the transition of living in Turkey as opposed to the United States and Canada. He’s adapted well, and his teammate Atiba Hutchinson has helped him. He says that his dream of becoming someone has come true. “The passion there for football is on [the] next level. Just walking the streets people recognize you. It’s all football there, and it’s good. You feel the passion and it translates to the field,” said Larin. 

Winning culture in Turkey is strong, and fans know that this team is capable of it. “Winning is everything when you play in these countries, it’s the most important thing,” said Larin.

As a Canadian native, Larin is one of the Canadian national team stars. He became the Canadian national team’s all-time top goalscorer on January 30th of this year. “I was happy when I broke the record, but I have more goals to score. I’m not finished and I have guys on my team who can get me the ball. All my goals in Canada, they’re important and as long as we win, that’s what matters most,” said Larin.

Canada clinched a spot in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar on Sunday, March 27th after defeating Jamaica 4-0. Despite the 1-0 loss on Wednesday, March 30th to Panama, Canada remains at the top of the Concacaf Octagonal standings. The 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar kicks off on November 21st and will last until December 18th. 

John Herdman, the head coach of Canada, has instilled belief in the team, their talent, and that they can compete with other countries. Larin said the brotherhood that the team has is very close. “That’s what gets us through games…you can see it on the pitch when we play. Everybody is very aggressive and wants to win bad,” said Larin.

The last time Canada made it was 1986. 36 years later, the current team is working their way to that same spot. Larin expressed how much means to him. “When I was growing up, I always watched the World Cup on TV…you never see a Canadian flag so now us making the World Cup, you’ll see Canada come together as a country, a soccer country. I’ve always felt we had it and now it’s coming true,” said Larin. 

Larin has always wanted to play in a World Cup and compete against other soccer powerhouses like Germany, France, and Spain to demonstrate the country’s talent. “I think it means a lot to the people back in Canada, they will see that we’re a soccer country and that we can compete at that stage,” said Larin. 

Canada will play in Group F of the FIFA World Cup facing Belgium on November 23, Croatia on November 27, and Morocco on December 1.