Seven Stars Who Dominated the Concacaf Gold Cup Group Stage
Although the FIFA World Cup is approaching within a year for North America, the three hosting countries and other Concacaf members are focusing on this summer's Gold Cup tournament.
The 2025 Gold Cup faces competition from the FIFA Club World Cup for audience attention in the United States and globally, yet the group phase delivered thrilling matches and unexpected standout performances from various players.
Even with some squads lacking crucial players due to club commitments, injuries, or rotation, numerous elite athletes raised their performance standards. But which players made the biggest impact?
Before the quarterfinal stage begins, Sports Illustrated examines the seven most impressive performers from the 2025 Gold Cup group phase.
7. Niko Sigur - Canada (Midfielder)
The 21-year-old Hajduk Split midfielder Niko Sigur is participating in his debut tournament with Canada, showcasing impressive passing skills and positioning as both a right-back and central midfielder.
Although Canada possesses considerable midfield depth, his capability to deliver precise passes to forwards, combined with his composure when holding possession and facing defensive challenges, makes him a candidate for starting roles in the tournament's most important matches.
He netted a goal in his first starting appearance and concluded the group phase with a perfectly weighted through pass to Tajon Buchanan, establishing himself among the top young talents in the group stage.
6. Edson Alvárez - Mexico (Midfielder)
Edson Álvarez featured in every minute during the group phase and served as a crucial component in Mexico's midfield core.
The West Ham United midfielder opened the tournament with both a goal and assist in a 3–2 victory against the Dominican Republic, then shifted his focus toward defensive duties in clean sheet performances, including a 2–0 triumph over Suriname and a goalless stalemate with Costa Rica.
5. Cesar Montes - Mexico (Defender)
Central defenders rarely appear at the top of scoring statistics, yet that's exactly where El Tri's Cesar Montes positioned himself after netting three goals during the group phase, with two strikes against Suriname and one versus the Dominican Republic.
Although Mexico didn't dominate their opening three matches and experienced a challenging beginning against Gold Cup newcomers Dominican Republic, they secured their group and progressed to the quarterfinals where they'll face Saudi Arabia.
Montes has also been instrumental in Mexico's two shutout victories and will maintain his important role as they pursue another Gold Cup trophy to complement their 2025 achievements, having already captured the Concacaf Nations League title in March.
4. Malik Tillman - USMNT (Midfielder)
The United States men's national team required certain players to elevate their performance, and Malik Tillman has answered that call.
Across three matches, he has found the net three times and served as the catalyst in an intense group stage conclusion against Haiti, after leading with six tackles in the 1–0 victory over Saudi Arabia.
Despite occasional offside infractions, his first touch and knack for discovering attacking spaces have been exceptional, mirroring the form he's displayed in recent campaigns with PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands.
Considering his remarkable performances at club level and now with the USMNT, the 23-year-old has attracted interest from Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen.
3. Tajon Buchanan - Canada (Winger)
Tajon Buchanan has successfully restored his self-assurance following a leg fracture and subsequent loan move to CF Villarreal from Inter.
While he hadn't featured in substantial complete matches for Milan or Villarreal, Buchanan entered the Canadian men's national team camp after scoring against FC Barcelona on La Liga's final matchday. That moment appears to have transformed his performance level.
He scored twice in the 6–0 opening victory against Honduras and contributed a third goal in the Group B finale, a 2–0 triumph over El Salvador, marking his first goal involvements with Canada since providing an assist for Alphonso Davies' strike against Croatia at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Throughout 190 minutes of action, he played an essential role as Canada topped a group for the first time since the 2009 Gold Cup and will remain a key figure in the knockout rounds, preparing for next year's World Cup.
2. Ismael Díaz - Panama (Striker)
As the tournament's top scorer with five goals across three matches, Panama's Ismael Díaz is ensuring the Nations League runners-up remain serious contenders entering the quarterfinals against Honduras.
While forwards like Jonathan David, Raul Jimenez, Santiago Gimenez and Patrick Agyemang excel with their favored teams, Diaz can combine Panama's physical strength with his technical abilities to capitalize against opponents.
1. Chris Richards - USMNT (Defender)
No player holds greater significance to the current USMNT formation than Crystal Palace center-back Chris Richards.
The 25-year-old netted the decisive goal with a diving header from Sebastian Berhalter's free-kick to secure all three points against Saudi Arabia, and continued as the USMNT's most vital player in victories over Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago, helping the United States conclude the group stage with eight goals scored and only one conceded.
Given his defensive intelligence and leadership during the victory over Saudi Arabia, the Americans' most challenging group stage adversary, head coach Mauricio Pochettino should feel completely confident in his capabilities entering the knockout phase.