Gio Reyna Silences the Doubters and Rewrites His USMNT Legacy

Four years ago, Gio Reyna found himself at the center of a storm involving the U.S. men's national team, marked by a bitter dispute with then-manager Gregg Berhalter and his own family. It seemed as though the once-celebrated midfielder had no future donning the red, white and blue.

Fast forward to 2026, and the 23-year-old capped off the USMNT's World Cup opener with a stunning trivela strike in front of a passionate home crowd at SoFi Stadium. The moment of brilliance put the finishing touch on the Stars and Stripes' commanding 4–1 win over Paraguay.

Reyna used the special occasion—his first-ever goal at a World Cup—to reveal that his wife, Chloe, is pregnant with their first child. The festivities carried on after the final whistle, with manager Mauricio Pochettino sharing a warm embrace with the most debated selection on his World Cup squad.

After all, Reyna made just 20 appearances for Borussia Mönchengladbach last season—with only five coming as a starter. Yet Pochettino stood firmly behind the former outcast, calling him up in November and again in March before including him in the World Cup roster.

It was a long and turbulent journey for Reyna back to prominence with the USMNT, following the scandals that overshadowed his early years with the national side.

Qatar Was a Turning Point for Reyna

Reyna was once considered among the most gifted players of the USMNT's "golden generation." The No. 10 possessed all the natural talent to become a long-term fixture for the Stars and Stripes, with a projected path not unlike that of Christian Pulisic.

Expectations heading into the 2022 World Cup in Qatar were enormous. Despite being just 20 years old, Reyna was at the heart of every discussion about the USMNT, and there was widespread confidence that he would play a pivotal role at the tournament.

Yet Reyna remained an unused substitute in the team's 1–1 opener against Wales. He then managed only eight minutes in the Stars and Stripes' goalless draw with England. In the must-win clash against Iran, he was once again left on the bench.

Questions and speculation began to mount over Berhalter's puzzling decisions. With a team crying out for creativity—from kickoff and from the substitutes' bench—Reyna was repeatedly passed over, never given the chance to help the side advance from the group stage.

The midfielder again did not start in the round of 16 against the Netherlands, though he did enter at halftime in an attempt to inspire a comeback that ultimately never materialized. Berhalter's side were eliminated after a 3–1 loss.

Shortly afterward, reports surfaced of Reyna's poor attitude and lack of commitment in training, which had contributed to his minimal playing time in Qatar. Berhalter himself later acknowledged—during a leadership conference he believed was off the record—that he had come close to sending Reyna home during the tournament.

The Rift Between Reyna's Family and Berhalter Deepens

Although Reyna reportedly apologized to his teammates during the 2022 World Cup, controversy continued to hang over his standing with the USMNT, particularly as his relationship with Berhalter deteriorated further.

Matters took an even darker turn when Reyna's parents—former U.S. internationals Claudio and Danielle—became involved. Reyna's father admitted to reaching out to U.S. Soccer regarding his son's limited role under Berhalter, before Danielle went to the federation and disclosed an incident between the former manager and his wife Rosalind that dated back to their college days.

Berhalter, who confirmed Danielle's account, had kicked Rosalind during a heated altercation in 1991. Berhalter sought counseling and the incident was never reported to police at the time. Danielle's decision to resurface the event prompted U.S. Soccer to launch an investigation into Berhalter, whose contract was ultimately not renewed after the 2022 World Cup.

"To set the record straight, I did call (U.S. Soccer sporting director) Earnie Stewart on December 11, just after the news broke that Gregg had made negative statements about my son Gio at a leadership conference," Danielle, who was roommates with Rosalind at UNC, said in a statement to The Athletic.

"I have known Earnie for years and consider him a close friend. I wanted him to know that I was absolutely outraged and devastated that Gio had been placed in such a terrible position, and that I felt deeply betrayed by the actions of someone my family had considered a friend for decades.

"As part of that conversation, I told Earnie that I thought it was especially unfair that Gio, who had apologized for acting immaturely about his playing time, was still being dragged through the mud when Gregg had asked for and received forgiveness for doing something far worse at the same age. Without going into detail, the statements from yesterday significantly downplay the abuse that occurred that night.

"Rosalind Berhalter was my roommate, teammate and closest friend, and I supported her through the trauma that followed. It took a long time for me to forgive and accept Gregg, but I worked hard to extend him grace, and ultimately welcomed both him, his wife and their children as a major part of my family's life. I would have wanted and expected him to offer that same grace to Gio. That is why the current situation is so deeply hurtful and difficult."

Reyna's Redemption Arc Took Years

The bitter conflict between the two families unsurprisingly cast a long shadow over Gio's future with the national team, particularly after Berhalter returned as manager in June 2023.

A string of injuries and limited playing time at Dortmund, Nottingham Forest and Borussia Mönchengladbach only compounded his struggles. He was firmly on the outside looking in, watching what had promised to be a flourishing USMNT career slowly fade away.

Then Pochettino took charge in September 2024, and suddenly a faint light appeared at the end of the tunnel. It took some time, but Reyna eventually earned his opportunity and a fresh start under Pochettino's leadership.

Reyna was handed his chance against Paraguay during the November international window and found the net just four minutes into the match. He then came off the bench against Uruguay and contributed an assist.

The 23-year-old started only one of his next five USMNT outings, yet he still managed to get on the scoresheet against Paraguay on Friday—this time on the grandest stage of all—announcing his true comeback in front of 70,492 fans at SoFi Stadium.

Reyna may not force his way into Pochettino's starting XI at the 2026 World Cup, but he is building his case with every minute on the pitch. Above all, he appears to be a far more mature and self-assured individual, despite everything he endured over the past few years.

Just look at how his teammates—both on the field and on the bench—rushed to celebrate with him after his sensational goal on Friday night. There is still ground to cover, but Reyna has undeniably earned the trust of his fellow players and his new manager as he embarks on this new chapter.

And that is wonderful news for the Stars and Stripes this summer.