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After spending years in the wilderness for both club and country, USMNT midfielder Gio Reyna is experiencing a remarkable revival, fueled by his summer move to Ligue 1 outfit Strasbourg.
Reyna grew accustomed to seeing his name in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Whether it was persistent injuries, limited playing time, or a family controversy involving former USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter, the 23-year-old nearly watched his once-bright career dissolve into a mere footnote.
Then along came Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentine manager placed his trust in Reyna without any obvious justification, controversially including the former prodigy in his 2026 World Cup squad while the likes of Tanner Tessmann, Diego Luna, and Aidan Morris were left behind.
Reyna rewarded Pochettino's bold decision with a stunning trivela goal in the team's opening tournament match against Paraguay, before going on to make four additional appearances on home turf. Strasbourg took note and offered the No. 10 a five-year contract that summer, providing him a welcome exit from Borussia Mönchengladbach.
It represented a fresh challenge for Reyna, who had never previously played in France. Yet the American is embracing his new surroundings and the lively culture of his new locker room.
"In Strasbourg, there are players from everywhere, with African, South American, Scandinavian roots ... So I try to absorb a little bit of everyone every day," Reyna said in an interview with L'Équipe. "That's the great strength of football: its ability to bring together people from all these cultures."
Reyna has also demonstrated his quality on the field in his new environment. He has already found the net twice in seven appearances, doubling his output from 20 outings at Mönchengladbach the previous season. On Saturday, he was the sole scorer for his side in a 3–1 loss to reigning European and French champions Paris Saint-Germain.
He's growing more comfortable week by week in Ligue 1, yet much of his identity remains deeply tied to his homeland.
Reyna Takes Notes From New York Mentality
Reyna has visited more places and experienced more cultures than most 23-year-olds on the planet. He was born in Sunderland, raised in New York, played for Borussia Dortmund in Germany, had a stint in England with Nottingham Forest, then moved to Mönchengladbach before settling in northeastern France.
His mother Danielle, who played soccer at the University of North Carolina before representing the U.S. women's national team, is of Irish heritage. His father Claudio, who retired from the USMNT with 112 international caps, is of Argentinian-Portuguese descent.
Reyna reflects on how each place has shaped his life and outlook, but none left a deeper impression than New York, where he spent his formative years from ages 5 to 16 and says he feels most at home.
"That's where I bought my house, where a large part of my family lives, where my wife is from and where I'll live after my career," Reyna said of New York. "I'm a true New Yorker! This city is a melting pot, and it's precisely this multicultural aspect, this diversity of such different people, all very proud to belong to New York—myself included—that makes it the most beautiful place in the world.
"With the mentality of always wanting to keep moving forward, even when things get tougher, while remaining loyal and passionate. The stereotypes you see in movies are true."
Reyna knows a thing or two about pressing forward through adversity. Following a lengthy road back to the USMNT, the midfielder now finds himself pushing for a starting spot in Pochettino's lineup. He earned the nod in all four of the team's friendlies this fall, chipping in with two assists along the way.
Securing a place in the starting XI for the 2030 World Cup would be a dream for the player who began his journey at New York City FC's academy. Malik Tillman will be a formidable rival, but Reyna appears more than up to the challenge these days.
Reyna Names One of His Biggest Inspirations
As Reyna continues his climb back to relevance at both club and international level, he keeps a close eye on other gifted players who thrive in the No. 10 role, particularly those he has shared a dressing room with in the past.
Reyna singles out Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham, whom he describes as a "great friend." The two were teammates at Dortmund before the England international departed for Real Madrid in the summer of 2023.
"I've always gotten along well with the English. Jude, who can play at a very high level in many different positions, is incredibly inspiring to me," Reyna said.
Bellingham has indeed made a habit of adapting his position for Los Blancos, despite his reservations. He began his time in the white shirt as a false nine, transitioned back to a No. 10 role, before being deployed deeper and occasionally even as a makeshift fullback.
Reyna will need to embrace similar versatility if he hopes to improve his chances of starting for the USMNT. Competition has never been fiercer following an influx of exciting young talent during the September-October international window, and Reyna will only bolster his case if he can be relied upon as a central midfielder or even out wide.