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Following a flawless autumn on home turf, the U.S. men's national team has once again scattered across the globe as players head back to their club sides.
For many of the American stars, the thrill of the nation's four straight wins has energized them, with the momentum from their performances in red, white and blue carrying over into their recent club outings.
For others—particularly those USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino chose to leave out of his squad this fall—they find themselves in a slump that is proving difficult to escape.
Here is Sports Illustrated's weekly stock up, stock down breakdown for USMNT players.
USMNT Stock Up
Julian Hall
Julian Hall simply cannot stop finding the net. After the 18-year-old forward scored in each of his first three appearances for the USMNT—making him the youngest player to accomplish such a feat since Brazilian soccer icon Pelé nearly 70 years ago—he has maintained his outstanding form.
It took the teenager just 15 minutes to get on the scoresheet upon returning to MLS action, netting the opening goal for Red Bull New York in a 4–1 win over San Diego FC on Saturday. True to his trademark style, Hall timed his run into the penalty area to perfection, meeting a dangerous cross with a simple but clinical finish.
The teenager has earned a reputation not only for his mature reading of the game, but also for his uncanny ability to anticipate how a play will unfold to the millisecond. He tracked San Diego's defensive line as it dropped back during the Red Bulls' attacks from midfield, then spotted that the opponent's left fullback was a fraction ahead of his teammates—creating a narrow gap to slip in behind the center backs while staying onside.
The fact that San Diego's defenders immediately flagged Hall for offside (and didn't even bother tracking him toward goal) illustrates just how fine the margins are in which Hall operates and thrives. He showcased this skill brilliantly with the USMNT last week, and it's a quality that could keep earning him call-ups from Pochettino.
This marked Hall's fifth goal in his last six appearances across all competitions, having also netted the winner in the Hudson River derby against New York City FC before heading off to international duty. Hall now has 11 goals in MLS play this season.
Alex Freeman
On a pitch filled with some of the world's most gifted soccer players, Alex Freeman stood out above the rest.
Although the USMNT fullback couldn't help La Liga side Villarreal claim victory against Real Madrid on Saturday, falling 1–0, Freeman still managed to impress the crowd at the Bernabéu.
He kept record-signing winger Yan Diomande quiet down the flank and finished the match with the most defensive actions (18), most touches (93), a 75% ground-duel success rate and a 60% aerial-duel success rate.
The son of NFL legend Antonio Freeman, the 22-year-old showcased his exceptional athleticism with a superb first-half recovery inside Villarreal's box. A perfectly executed sweeping slide tackle denied Diomande a clear opportunity. Beyond his raw physical gifts, Freeman also drew praise for his tactical intelligence and composure in the build-up phase.
After struggling for game time last season, Freeman is carving out a reputation for himself in Spain this term and has started four of the last five La Liga matches. The growing recognition of his abilities is also closely tied to the success he has enjoyed with the Stars and Stripes. He emerged as a rising star at the World Cup this summer and has continued to be a reliable presence at the back.
USMNT Stock Down
Max Arfsten
There are now three Americans on the books at Middlesbrough in the EFL Championship, yet only two are seeing regular playing time.
World Cup participants Max Arfsten and Sebastian Berhalter both signed deals in England following the successful summer on home soil, joining midfielder Aidan Morris in North Yorkshire—a longtime USMNT contributor who was not included in the World Cup squad.
While Berhalter and Morris have been regular starters for Middlesbrough this season, forming the double pivot in midfield, Arfsten has largely been confined to the bench.
After the English club reportedly shelled out $7.5 million for Arfsten—a figure that far exceeded Berhalter's $2 million fee—the winger was expected to play a significant role, particularly off the back of a stellar spring with Columbus Crew that earned him MLS All-Star recognition. He started three of Middlesbrough's opening four matches at fullback; however, his minutes have steadily dwindled since then.
He managed just three minutes in Saturday's league fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers and 12 minutes in Tuesday's clash with Stoke City. His limited playing time may have reinforced Pochettino's decision to omit Arfsten from the fall squad, while Berhalter received a call-up. In turn, being left out internationally may have further influenced Middlesbrough manager Kim Helberg's decision to keep Arfsten out of the starting lineup.
How the 25-year-old plans to break free from this vicious cycle remains to be seen.
Folarin Balogun
Following a summer of controversy and a transfer saga that threw yet another major obstacle in Folarin Balogun's path, the USMNT striker has been slow to rediscover his best form.
Despite impressing at the World Cup this summer, the 25-year-old was left out of Pochettino's fall roster due to a minor leg injury and likely the chaotic Deadline Day situation that saw Balogun remain at club side Monaco rather than completing a much-anticipated return to the Premier League.
Pochettino spoke with Balogun after the dust settled. "I was in touch with him," he said in the days leading up to the international window. "After his situation ... Yes, we had some conversations about how he is, how he is now, how he feels, that he needs to move on, and it was a very nice conversation, and now he's focusing on trying to recover a little bit from a small issue in one of his legs."
After a standout campaign for Monaco last season in which he led the team with 13 Ligue 1 goals, Balogun has yet to reclaim his spot in the starting eleven. He came off the bench for just 14 minutes in a 2–1 win over Lens on Sept. 18—his first appearance since the World Cup round of 16 defeat to Belgium in early July. He then came on for 32 minutes in the second half of a 2–2 draw with Toulouse on Saturday; however, Balogun failed to register a single shot and managed just 14 touches.
Nonetheless, the American forward is expected to regain his rhythm sooner rather than later and earn a place in the USMNT's November squad for Concacaf Nations League action.