USMNT Stars Shine Bright: Ranking the Top 5 Players Who Dominated This Week's World Cup 2026 Journey
The second-to-last week of January brought harsh winter conditions that blanketed much of the continental United States in cold temperatures and snow, while American men's national team players continued to shine with impressive performances throughout Europe.
As MLS teams engaged in preseason activities in warmer climates, numerous American athletes delivered outstanding weeks in European competition, playing pivotal roles in promotion races, Champions League matches, and beyond.
With such reliable displays happening weekly, USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino faces increasingly difficult choices for March squad selection and World Cup roster construction—certainly a positive challenge to navigate.
Below, Sports Illustrated evaluates the top five weekly performances from American players around the world.
5. Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough)
5. Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough)
A genuine possibility exists that Aidan Morris earns a spot on the USMNT World Cup roster and could be preparing for his Premier League debut season by tournament's conclusion.
Though the 24-year-old former Columbus Crew academy graduate isn't producing spectacular offensive statistics—recording zero goals and two assists across 23 appearances with English Championship club Middlesbrough—he has established himself as one of the division's most reliable performers.
This week demonstrated his continued excellence in a central midfield partnership with 23-year-old English player Hayden Hackney, completing all 33 pass attempts during a 61-minute display in a commanding 4–0 victory against Preston North End.
Middlesbrough currently occupy second place in the Championship with automatic promotion positioning, trailing league leaders Coventry City by merely three points.
4. Mark McKenzie (Toulouse)
4. Mark McKenzie (Toulouse)
The USMNT's central defensive options possess remarkable depth, and Mark McKenzie is building his argument for a starting position in the probable three-man backline at the World Cup through his recent Ligue 1 displays with Toulouse.
This campaign, the 26-year-old has featured in 19 matches, including his present run of eight consecutive complete 90-minute appearances across Ligue 1 and Coupe de France competitions. He operates on the right flank of a three-man defense, a position that could translate effectively to Pochettino's tactical approach.
While maintaining his defensive excellence this weekend, McKenzie contributed to Toulouse's 2–0 triumph over Brest on Sunday, providing an assist for Pape Demba Diop's opening strike, while completing his 90-minute stint with seven clearances and eight ball recoveries.
3. Chris Richards (Crystal Palace)
3. Chris Richards (Crystal Palace)
Among the most crucial players for the USMNT heading into the World Cup, Chris Richards found the net in his 100th Crystal Palace appearance during a 3–1 defeat to Chelsea in Sunday's Premier League fixture.
Despite the result dropping the Eagles to 15th position in the standings, it marked another impressive display from the American center-back as his team navigates the concluding phase of Oliver Glasner's managerial tenure. Beyond his maiden goal of the season, Richards recorded five defensive actions and continued developing in his left center-back position.
In the coming week, he and Crystal Palace aim to end an 11-match winless run across all tournaments when they face 17th-positioned Nottingham Forest.
2. Johnny Cardoso (Atlético Madrid)
2. Johnny Cardoso (Atlético Madrid)
Johnny Cardoso's dedication has begun yielding more reliable displays with Atlético Madrid, and this week witnessed the 24-year-old feature for 72 minutes in a 3–0 triumph over Mallorca, a team fighting relegation.
Following his summer transfer from Real Betis, Cardoso initially found it difficult to establish himself within Diego Simeone's system early in the campaign, but he has now earned starting roles in three of the squad's previous four fixtures.
Against Mallorca, the midfielder registered 54 touches and six defensive actions in a central partnership with 22-year-old Spanish player Pablo Barrios. Cardoso didn't find the scoresheet, but he delivered five passes into the attacking third and completed three long-range passes, per FotMob data.
This steady performance followed another encouraging midweek display, where he maintained perfect passing accuracy during a 34-minute substitute role in Champions League competition against Galatasaray.
Pochettino faces an abundance of American midfield talent, but regular playing time and strong performances from Cardoso should secure his inclusion in the March camp and likely World Cup selection.
1. Weston McKennie (Juventus)
1. Weston McKennie (Juventus)
Ever since Luciano Spalletti assumed control as Juventus manager on Oct. 30, 2025, Weston McKennie's reputation and performance level have continuously improved, and this week proved no exception across Champions League and Serie A competition.
In the Bianconeri's midweek victory against Benfica, he delivered one of his finest seasonal performances, netting his fifth goal across all competitions while generating two scoring opportunities and contributing two ball recoveries from a right midfield position.
The victory elevated Juventus to 12 points through seven Champions League group stage matches, positioning them 15th in the standings as they approach the final matchday against fellow American Folarin Balogun and Monaco.
The 27-year-old Little Elm, Texas native followed his exciting midweek showing with another impressive display in a 3–0 victory over Napoli on Sunday, where he adopted a more offensive role and helped spearhead his team's attack, which featured goals from Jonathan David, Kenan Yıldız and Filip Kostić.
Radiating confidence and adaptability, McKennie could emerge as one of the most vital players this summer, despite previously appearing to be a potential squad rotation option in Pochettino's plans.