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Gio Reyna has finally found his footing, and the 23-year-old looks set to become a central figure in the next generation of the U.S. men's national team.
Following years of scarce playing time at Bundesliga clubs Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Mönchengladbach, along with an unproductive loan stint at Nottingham Forest, the USMNT midfielder has at last established a consistent role at Ligue 1 side Racing Strasbourg.
Simultaneously, he has emerged as a clear favorite of USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino, fueling a remarkable career resurgence heading into the 2026 World Cup after it appeared his international future was fading.
With stability at both club and international level, a new chapter in his career is unfolding. The USMNT boasts unprecedented midfield depth, yet Reyna has begun asserting himself as an essential component. The key question remains: What is his best role?
"It's pretty simple: just keep building on what I've been doing," Reyna told GOAL about his resurgence, following the USMNT's four consecutive wins during the September-October international window. "Keep showing up every day, training, recovering, doing everything I need to prepare mentally and physically for every training and game. I feel good, though, and I'm feeling more confident every time I step on the pitch."
Pochettino's 'Special' Player Is 'Back to His Best'
In the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup, even as Reyna battled for club minutes, Pochettino praised the midfielder as a "very special talent." Despite generally prioritizing club form, Pochettino made an exception for Reyna, selecting him for pre-tournament friendlies against Belgium and Portugal in March.
Though Reyna and the USMNT fell short in both matches, it was evident that Pochettino viewed the then-Bundesliga player on a different level from others in the squad. He included Reyna in his World Cup roster, where the young star served as a key impact substitute and even found the net in the tournament opener against Paraguay.
Since then, his two goals in seven appearances for Strasbourg have offered a glimpse of the potential Pochettino always believed in. Most recently, he scored against reigning UEFA Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday, punishing the European champions with a composed turn and clinical finish inside the box to break the deadlock.
His ascent was further underscored by the prominent role he played during the fall international window. Reyna was the only USMNT player to start all four victories, featuring in an otherwise heavily rotated, youth-oriented lineup.
Speaking with former USMNT forward Herculez Gomez, ex-USMNT teammate Kellyn Acosta said Reyna was "back to his best" and believes he can be an "important figure" for the USMNT going forward.
"He's a player that is so talented, with his natural ability," Acosta said. "Gio has been through a lot of hardships, and he's come out of it. Now we're seeing a guy that's playing consistently with his club, and now he's back with the national team doing what he does best."
Acosta added: "He sees the game a bit differently than most. He glides. He's clever. Has a bit of an edge to him too ... He's a guy that checks all the boxes, and he's an important figure for our team."
Finding a Place for Reyna
The recent international window provided a strong signal about where Pochettino envisions Reyna fitting in—most likely as a No. 10. However, he will need to outshine several other USMNT stars to secure that spot.
In a 4-2-3-1 system, Reyna operated as the creative playmaker in victories over Peru and Chile, games in which the USMNT dominated from start to finish. It mirrors the role he has taken on at Strasbourg, allowing him to dictate the tempo and display his technical qualities rather than relying on physicality. He thrived in both outings, registering an assist in each friendly.
However, against tougher opposition in Canada and Mexico, Reyna found it harder to replicate that influence when deployed as a deeper midfielder or out wide.
His primary competition for the No. 10 role will be Malik Tillman, who shone across all four friendlies. The Bayer Leverkusen midfielder first made his mark as the No. 10 at the World Cup and is widely expected to start there going forward. The 24-year-old can comfortably shift wide or drop deeper—two positions of strength in the USMNT pool, areas where Reyna has comparatively found it more difficult to adapt from the No. 10 role.
Most crucially, Reyna is finally where he needs to be: playing regular soccer. He will continue to grow through these increased opportunities and will be well-placed to stake his claim in the USMNT's developing midfield. Next, he will have the opportunity to make his mark in November's Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals against Haiti.