Gio Reyna Breaks Through After 601 Days, Delivers Spectacular Goal for USMNT
Gio Reyna had a crucial opportunity to make his mark upon returning to the U.S. men's national team, and his comeback match couldn't have begun more perfectly.
Starting in the lineup against Paraguay, the Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder struck gold just four minutes into the game, converting a brilliant attacking cross from Columbus Crew's Max Arfsten with a header to give the USMNT a 1–0 advantage.
This strike represented Reyna's first international goal since the 2024 Concacaf Nations League final, when the United States triumphed over Mexico 2–0 under former head coach Gregg Berhalter. Additionally, he surpassed his father Claudio's record with his ninth career international goal for the U.S.
At club level, it was Reyna's first goal since January 14, when he scored for Borussia Dortmund in a disappointing 4–2 defeat to Holsten Kiel in Bundesliga competition.
During Saturday's broadcast replay, Reyna appeared to say "I told you" as he sprinted toward the corner flag at Subaru Park to celebrate his goal on Saturday.
Fighting for World Cup Selection
Reyna's involvement with the USMNT has been inconsistent in recent years, with injuries, poor form, and off-field issues limiting his appearances after emerging as one of Europe's brightest young talents before the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Though he continues to struggle for consistency and hasn't exceeded 610 minutes in any season since 2020–21, his goal against Paraguay will certainly boost his chances of securing a spot on the 2026 World Cup squad.
"I definitely think about [the World Cup] quite frequently since it's a place I must and want to be," Reyna told the Associated Press in a recent interview. "However, I try to concentrate on the daily work here, remain focused in the present, work hard every day, and trust that everything will come together."
Paraguay equalized just four minutes after Reyna's opener, but there could hardly have been a better way for Reyna to reintroduce himself to the Stars and Stripes than by scoring in the opening moments.
Following the Paraguay encounter, the USMNT will face Uruguay on November 18 in their final fixture of 2025.