Perhaps the word prodigy gets tossed around too casually in sports as fans and media get caught up trying to hype the next big thing. But in the case of 11-year-old Joshua Pynadath, the label might be accurate. Real Madrid, the famed Spanish soccer club, just invited Pynadath to join its academy program this fall.

To put this in perspective, Real Madrid has never imported a prospect from the U.S.

"I was blown away when I got the official news from Real Madrid," Pynadath told the Los Altos Town Crier. "They told me that I was the first American that they have ever accepted into their academy. I told them that I would set a good example."

Pynadath's first trial with Real Madrid was last year during the week of Thanksgiving. He performed well enough to earn a second visit to Madrid, which resulted in his earning a spot at the academy.

Another indication that Pynadath has legitimate potential is that FC Barcelona also brought him in for a tryout.

Here's a highlight reel of Pynadath flashing his skills:

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Pynadath and his family plan to move from Los Altos Hills, a suburb between San Francisco and San Jose, to Madrid by the end of the month.

(H/T to Deadspin)