USMNT Stars Who Dominated 2025: The Ultimate Top 5 Ranking
The United States men's national soccer team experienced a turbulent 2025 campaign under head coach Mauricio Pochettino's guidance.
Throughout the past year, the Stars and Stripes endured a disappointing fourth-place showing in the Concacaf Nations League and suffered defeat against arch-rivals Mexico in the Concacaf Gold Cup, alongside numerous tactical adjustments and questionable squad selections.
However, the year concluded with three consecutive victories, maintaining an unbeaten streak of five matches in international exhibitions and establishing a more cohesive roster. Simultaneously, while players may not have achieved their international pinnacle, American talent flourished remarkably at club level.
Sports Illustrated examines the premier five American athletes in 2025, all targeting crucial positions for the 2026 World Cup.
5. Matt Freese
The USMNT faces numerous uncertainties approaching the 2026 World Cup campaign, but goalkeeper position isn't among them—New York City FC's Matt Freese holds the No. 1 spot.
Although Matt Turner began 2025 as the primary choice, his lackluster displays during the team's Nations League defeats to Panama and Canada provided Pochettino the opportunity to make a change. The Argentine coach designated Freese as the starter for the Gold Cup and subsequent international exhibitions, while Turner resolved his club circumstances and returned to New England Revolution.
Freese captured the starting position for the final 12 USMNT fixtures of 2025, following his international debut in a June exhibition defeat to Türkiye. His outstanding performance in the Gold Cup quarterfinal penalty shootout victory over Costa Rica remains memorable. Nevertheless, he proved crucial at multiple junctures, securing triumphs against Uruguay, Paraguay and Australia during autumn.
His tenure with NYCFC also produced impressive statistics, recording 11 shutouts and making 109 saves across 36 matches in the MLS regular season and playoffs, which concluded in the Eastern Conference final against eventual champions Inter Miami.
4. Sebastian Berhalter
Sebastian Berhalter enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in 2025, earning his first USMNT call-up during summer and delivering crucial contributions at the Gold Cup as well as November's international exhibition victories over Paraguay and Uruguay.
Demonstrating exceptional precision on dead balls, he netted a curling strike against Uruguay for his maiden USMNT goal and contributed an assist in the 4–1 triumph, which concluded Pochettino's team's year. This display followed Berhalter's impressive Gold Cup showing, where he registered two assists, including a vital set piece for Chris Richards's decisive goal in the group phase against Saudi Arabia.
Rarely did any player enjoy a superior club campaign. Berhalter became indispensable for Vancouver Whitecaps FC, tallying eight goals and 14 assists across 47 appearances in all competitions. The American helped guide the team to MLS Cup and Concacaf Champions Cup finals, while capturing a fourth consecutive Canadian Championship.
3. Malik Tillman
Malik Tillman experienced a developmental 2025 both at club level and with the USMNT, as he transferred to Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen and established a significant national team position during Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie's prolonged absences.
Tillman concluded the 2024-25 season with 16 goals and 5 assists for PSV Eindhoven in their Eredivisie championship campaign. Fellow USMNT teammates Sergiño Dest and Ricardo Pepi also contributed.
After the Gold Cup, Tillman joined Leverkusen, where he has gradually established himself following a difficult campaign start that resulted in manager Erik ten Hag's dismissal.
Since discovering his rhythm in Germany, Tillman has emerged as a transitional element and vital defensive player, becoming a consistent starter in both Bundesliga and Champions League. Meanwhile, he maintains his USMNT position, after netting three goals and two assists in six Gold Cup matches, earning Gold Cup Best XI recognition.
2. Christian Pulisic
Pulisic concludes 2025 displaying some of his finest football, with eight goals in his opening 11 Serie A matches, genuinely contending for the league's Golden Boot despite missing several weeks due to hamstring problems.
Throughout the calendar year, he has scored 19 goals with Milan while establishing himself as one of Europe's elite league performers. Nevertheless, his USMNT involvement was troubled by dedication concerns in 2025, as he avoided the Gold Cup and summer exhibitions, choosing rest over the final competitive matches before the 2026 World Cup.
While Canada's Jonathan David secured the 2024–25 Concacaf Men's Player of the Year honor, Pulisic is demonstrating that he represents Concacaf's finest talent and will be an essential component of the 2026 World Cup squad.
1. Chris Richards
Rarely have Americans genuinely succeeded in the Premier League like Chris Richards has, establishing himself as an essential player for Crystal Palace and the USMNT in 2025.
Last season, he accumulated 2,635 minutes for the Eagles across all competitions and helped the club capture the 2025 FA Cup and earn Conference League qualification. This year, he has maintained his crucial role and began the season with a Community Shield victory over Liverpool.
While the 25-year-old continues to excel with consistent Premier League performances across all competitions, his form also guided the USMNT through the Gold Cup and recent international exhibitions. Richards made 12 USMNT appearances in 2025, starting every Gold Cup match, where he scored twice, including in the final against Mexico.
Despite Pochettino's extensive roster experimentation in the World Cup preparation year, no player possesses a more secure position in the starting eleven than Richards.