There is, understandably, a lot of angst going around the US men’s national team fanbase. Recent performances have not been up to standard, and disappointing results are creating a distinctly doom-y feeling just over a year out from the start of a home World Cup.
What might be lost in all of this is what was, by and large, a very solid season for Americans abroad. Here’s how the major figures affected their international standing this past season (Major figures meaning: players who have been involved with the senior team within the last year or so).
Helped a lot
Christian Pulisic: The USMNT’s best player also enjoyed his finest season as a professional, emerging as a crucial player for Milan, even as the team suffered a disappointing campaign. Pulisic appeared in 50 games for Milan for the second straight season, but scored more goals and added more assists in those appearances. He can claim to be one of the best all-around attacking players in Serie A, leading the league in chances created, according to Opta. If his Gold Cup absence helps him stay fit and in form for the World Cup, it’s doubtful anyone will care about missing this summer’s tournament come next June.
Johnny Cardoso: Johnny has been a minor revelation over the course of Real Betis’ season, which could end in silverware with Wednesday’s Europa Conference League final against Chelsea. The Brazilian-born defensive midfielder ranks among the elite at his position in interceptions, clearances, aerials won, and take-ons (all according to FBRef), showing his importance as a defensive shield and press-breaker. He could be in line for a step up: Atlético Madrid are reportedly interested in prying him from Betis.
Brenden Aaronson: Aaronson appeared in all 46 of Leeds’s league games and started the vast majority of them, racking up a little over 3,500 minutes – by far the most he’s played in a season. He had 11 goal contributions (nine goals, two assists) for the best attack in the Championship, and helped his team off the ball with relentless pressing. There’s no guarantee Aaronson will get as much time in the Premier League next season, but his 2024-25 campaign was still important to establish himself at a decent level.
Malik Tillman: Tillman had a breakout season for PSV in 2023-24, and he topped that this season as PSV once again captured the Dutch title while he earned Player of the Season nods from multiple outlets. Tillman set a career high in goals and came close to doing the same in total minutes – especially impressive considering he missed two months with an ankle injury. The question now for Tillman is whether PSV will get an offer they can’t refuse for him from a bigger league.
Antonee Robinson: When the season started, Robinson was among the best left-backs in the Premier League. Now that the season is done, he’s still in that conversation. Robinson was a consistent threat down the left for Fulham, only taking a step back towards the end of the year due to a case of tendinopathy (which will also keep him from the US squad this summer). There continue to be rumors of an incoming move for Robinson from one of the Premier League’s Big Six, and they continue to be justified.
Helped a little
Ricardo Pepi: The only thing keeping Pepi from the top category was January’s knee injury that ruled him out for the rest of PSV’s season. Before that point, Pepi had scored 17 times in 27 appearances, including twice in the Champions League. He seemed to be forcing a genuine competition between himself and grizzled vet Luuk de Jong. If he can keep this up next season, he’ll continue to be relevant in the US’s striker debate.
Tanner Tessmann: Tessmann struggled to establish himself early on at Lyon, but gradually got more time at defensive midfield and looked more comfortable after jumping from Serie B, where he spent last season with Venezia. In all, it was a season of growth for Tessmann, who got an extended look with the US at the Nations League but missed the cut for the Gold Cup.
Chris Richards: His numbers with Crystal Palace are similar this season as last, but playing all 90 minutes of every game of the team’s captivating run to FA Cup glory counts for a lot. The center back is starting to look the part of the US’s first-choice central defender, though his ideal partner is still very much an open debate. Speaking of which …
Mark McKenzie: McKenzie was a consistent starter for Toulouse in Ligue 1, and there’s much to be said for establishing oneself as that in a top European league. His individual performances have not always stood out, but this season certainly improved his standing. One wrinkle: at Toulouse he has usually played as the left side of a three-man backline – not a formation that the US plays often.
Damion Downs: A surprise inclusion on the Gold Cup training camp roster, Downs scored 11 times in all competitions for Köln in the 2.Bundesliga this season, helping the club top the table and get back into the top flight. The Germany/US dual national has speed, size and an eye for goal, but it’s hard to know how where he ranks in the rest of the striker pool right now. We’ll find out more this summer.
Kept on keeping on
Josh Sargent: The Norwich City striker continued to bang in the goals – 15 this year after 16 last year in the Championship, with five assists this season. Also like last season, Sargent missed significant time in the middle of the campaign due to injury (in 2024-25 it was groin surgery, in 2023-24 it was an ankle injury). Sargent is still looking for a season in which he a) stays healthy for a full season, b) maintains his scoring record in a top division, and c) carries at least some of that form over to the national team. As it is, he remains in the Championship for now and was left off the Gold Cup squad in what Pochettino called a “football decision.”
Alejandro Zendejas: Zendejas was a key contributor to a strong Club América side that may yet compete in the Club World Cup. His numbers are in line with where they’ve been for the previous two seasons, and his direct style on the wing provides a different look than many USMNT players at the position.
Haji Wright: Wright scored 12 goals while helping Coventry reach the Championship play-offs, where they fell to Sunderland. He missed about three months with an ankle injury and split time between left wing and center forward. The same versatility and finishing instincts that brought him to the national team are still there, which is why he’ll re-join the US this summer.
Weston McKennie: To see McKennie’s value to Juventus this year, just look at the positions they had him play. Central midfield, right-back, left-back, attacking midfield, second striker … McKennie did just about everything for La Vecchia Signora this season. And this after he was once again shopped very openly by the club in the off-season. That probably won’t be happening this time around, with McKennie signing a deserved contract extension earlier this month. He’s a lock in a first-choice US squad, and seems as if he’ll be in the picture for Juve for at least another year.
Cameron Carter-Vickers: Another season, another consistent role in the heart of the Celtic defense, another Scottish Premiership title. That’s four straight domestic league trophies now for CCV with Celtic. Those consistent minutes and trophies didn’t lead to a spot with the US for this summer’s Gold Cup, though.
Gianluca Busio: Busio enjoyed a consistent role in central midfield for Venezia and enjoyed some bright moments, but the season ends with a bitter taste due to Venezia’s relegation to Serie B. Busio is 22 and just completed his fourth season with Venezia, with this being the club’s second relegation in that time. Busio has been solid enough in Serie A to merit a move to stay at that level, and his contract expires in 2026 – the time is right for Venezia to make a move.
Tyler Adams: After missing the first couple months of the season with ongoing back problems, Adams put together his best and, perhaps more importantly, healthiest season since joining Bournemouth. Adams finished with just over 2,000 minutes played for the second time in three years, and ranked in the top quarter among his positional peers in the Big 5 leagues in tackles, interceptions, blocks, clearances, and aerial duels won. His case to stay on the national team doesn’t need to be made now that he’s fully healthy.
Joe Scally: Scally was a dependable, every-game starter for Borussia Mönchengladbach, just as he was for the previous three seasons. His role on the national team is also well-established – primarily depth at full-back. He hasn’t made a leap into the next category yet, but he’s still just 22 – that’s more than OK.
Questions remain
Tim Weah: What’s his best position? Weah started off as a center forward, rose through the ranks at PSG and the US as a winger, but has been playing a fair amount of wingback for Juventus over the past season. Versatility is no bad thing, but Weah has yet to establish a consistent role and much depends on whether Juventus manager Igor Tudor sticks around, and what system he or his successor will deploy next season.
Sergiño Dest: For Dest, this season was all about one thing: getting healthy. He has done so, recovering from an offseason ACL tear in time to make appearances in PSV’s last handful of league games before capturing the Eredivisie title. He will make his return to the national team this summer, and it remains to be seen to what degree he’ll mesh with Pochettino.
John Tolkin: Tolkin had a rough introduction to the German Bundesliga after making the move from his hometown New York Red Bulls, playing 11 games and notching two assists as Holstein Kiel finished in the relegation zone. The question, then, is whether Tolkin will be able to stand out in the 2.Bundesliga, which is what might be needed for him to get another call to the national team before the World Cup.
Marlon Fossey: For the second straight season Fossey was a consistent starter at right-back for Standard Liège. They are usually traditionally a power in Belgium but finished seventh this season. Fossey was a part of the United States squad at the most recent Nations League, but did not impress enough to make the cut for the Gold Cup training camp.
Matko Miljevic: Miljevic moved from Newell’s to Huracán in Argentina, reportedly after some disciplinary issues. He has seemingly done alright so far this season, but wasn’t part of the Gold Cup training camp and seems a longshot to be a consistent fixture in the US team.
Falling down the pecking order
Giovanni Reyna: There is no questioning Reyna’s raw talent, but it’s clearly long past time for him to get a fresh start. Reyna amassed just over 600 minutes for Borussia Dortmund this season, the vast majority of which were late appearances off the bench in which he usually failed to make much of an impact. Even if it means dropping to a less-fancied team or league, Reyna needs time on the field.
Yunus Musah: Musah requested to be excluded from the US national team this summer with what the federation called a “personal issue”. We don’t know if that issue is part of what led to Musah’s funk at Milan this season, where he was in and out of the lineup, tried in many different positions, and generally failed to impress much at any of them. It seems like Musah needs a reset, and that’s what he’ll get this summer.
Matt Turner: Turner is still locked in a competition to be the US No 1 goalkeeper, but every day he spends on the bench for his club side weakens his case a little bit more. Turner either needs to find a way to beat out Dean Henderson at Crystal Palace (unlikely), or move somewhere he’ll get consistent time as a starter.
Auston Trusty: Trusty traded long periods as Carter-Vickers’ first-choice central defensive partner with multi-week stints on the bench for Celtic. He impressed at various points in the Champions League, but overall didn’t do much to increase his standing internationally.
Folarin Balogun: It’s fair to say at this point that the move to Monaco after a 21-goal season with Stade de Reims has not worked out. Balogun has only scored 12 times in the two seasons since, and in 2024-25 he spent long periods out with shoulder and ankle injuries. In the meantime, his competition at striker for the national team has only gotten more intense. When healthy and in form, Balogun is an easy pick for the US. He hasn’t been either of those things for a while now.
