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The pool of American men’s players has never been better. There are unprecedented players from the United States currently plying their trades across the pond in some of the world’s best leagues. This list will break down who all of those players are.
30. Griffin Yow (Westerlo)
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Yow has quietly been having a very solid year in the Belgian top flight for Westerlo. The 21-year-old has six goals and four assists in only 22 matches as of mid-April. A tricky winger with pace and creativity, he could be someone Gregg Berhalter looks at down the line for winger depth assuming Yow continues to improve at this pace. It has to be a good sign that Yow is already one of his club’s most important attacking players.
29. Paxten Aaronson (Utrecht — on Loan From Eintracht Frankfort)
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In search of playing time, Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfort loaned the younger Aaronson brother to Vitesse in the Eredivisie. With the Dutch club, Aaronson scored four goals in 14 matches. He also played the full 90 in all of those games. At the very least, getting him experience and time on the pitch will go wonders towards his development. The upside is there for him to be a potential senior National Team member down the line.
28. Tanner Tessmann (Venezia)
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Tessmann is a core reason why Venezia is squarely in the hunt for promotion to Serie A. Many have lauded him for an appealing set of physical tools. The other aspects of the game — positioning, acumen, tactics — were what needed to improve. Since playing in Italy, we’ve seen him grow considerably in all of those areas. Tessmann likely will be a starter for the U.S. Olympic team this upcoming July.
27. Rokas Pukstas (Hajduk Split)
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Pukstas is probably the best player on this list you’ve never heard of. There’s a very high ceiling with the Oklahoma native. He was a member of the most recent U-20 World Cup roster. Pukstas currently starts for one of the best teams in Croatia. As we’ve seen in recent years, Croatia has developed into a world power — and the domestic league is a big reason for that developmentally speaking. As a guy who can play both in an advanced role and as a No. 6, Pukstas is likely headed for a jump toward Serie A or the Bundesliga sooner than later. Don’t be shocked if he becomes a member of the 2026 World Cup roster.
26. Jesus Ferreira (FC Dallas)
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Ferreira deserves to be included in this list. He’s a very polarizing player for the fan base. MLS enthusiasts have been clamoring for him to be a locked-in starter for years. These individuals often reference his ability to link up effectively, as well as being able to play both as a No. 9 and a No. 10. On the other hand, those who favor the European-based players often refer to the fact Ferreira struggles against any type of semi-decent competition. Is he better than the likes of Sargent, Balogun, Wright, Vasquez, or Pepi? Probably not. Still, you can envision him being in the picture for the next few years in some capacity.
25. Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United)
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Aaronson’s game has stagnated a bit since leaving Austria for spells in both the EPL and the Bundesliga. His ability to cover ground and press has never been in question. However, producing goals/assists has been an issue. He was once a lock for any USMNT roster. At only 23, there’s still plenty of time for Aaronson to get back into the mix. If he doesn’t become a more well-rounded player, he does run the risk of being leapfrogged by an ever-improving pool of players.
24. Haji Wright (Coventry City)
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Wright is mostly an afterthought for the vast majority of the fan base. Even when scoring during the World Cup versus the Netherlands, Wright is rarely viewed the same way as many of the other players at his position. At this point, few have been as productive as Wright thus far over the last calendar year. Playing as a striker/left winger for Coventry City in the Championship, Wright has netted 15 goals and accused six assists over 39 matches. He likely won’t break into the striker depth chart for the U.S. — though he could conceivably reemerge as a backup winger option.
23. Kristoffer Lund (Palermo)
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Lund is another one of the left-back options seeking to be the primary backup to Antonee Robinson. It’s been a big problem for the National Team over the last handful of years. Lund starts for Serie B side Palermo. Like Tessmann, Lund is aiding in his team’s hopes to be promoted to Serie A. He’s not overly athletic, though he does represent a more technical player than some of the competitors he’s facing within the pool. There’s a world in which Lund does become a regular depth piece for the USMNT assuming his development continues to trend upward.
22. Matt Turner (Crystal Palace)
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Turner remains as the starting GK within the pool. His form with Nottingham Forest wasn’t great. Despite the high-profile move from Arsenal, shaky play has led Turner to be benched by his club. He hadn’t started a match since January, and recently completed a transfer to Crystal Palace.
21. Mark McKenzie (Genk)
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It’s safe to say McKenzie has developed into a top-four CB option for the USMNT pool at this point. He struggled significantly when first making the move to Belgium from the United States. However, McKenzie has settled down very well and is now a first-choice player for Genk. A smooth player, McKenzie would rather play the ball up the field progressively in a possession-style system as opposed to hoofing the ball forward to no one (a la Walker Zimmerman).
20. Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg)
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The 20-year-old left winger has steadily been getting more and more play time over the last few months. Paredes does have nice versatility positionally which helps his case for both club and country. He was bullied off the ball far too easily when first getting to Wolfsburg. However, Paredes has worked hard to gain strength and muscle to further combat the rigors of the German First Division. He is slated to be a core member of the Olympic team and is right on the fringes of breaking into the USMNT A-group.
19. Lennard Maloney (Heidenheim)
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Maloney has worked his way up from obscurity in lower German divisions into a Bundesliga-level player. Credit him for continuing to improve his craft and make himself an important player for Heidenheim. Maloney is a bit of a throw-back player. He’s not overly skilled, but he’s good in the air and is a physical presence. Maloney is a good depth piece for the USMNT to have in its back pocket. At only 24 years of age, he’ll provide nice cover for the other defensive midfielders within the pool.
18. Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic)
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Carter-Vickers is another guy who’s toiled away at a plethora of clubs before finding a solidified spot with Scottish giant Celtic. You know what you’re going to get with CCV when he’s commanding the backline. Stoutly built, he’ll body up attacking players with the best of them. He’s better in the air than you’d think, and has developed into a very credible passer of the football accuracy-wise. Carter-Vickers can sometimes get caught out of position going for the spectacular, and his lack of height will lead to some issues on set pieces. However, he’s easily among the better center-backs in the pool today.
17. Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach)
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Objectively speaking, Scally is one of the best U-23 right-backs in the world at this point. Few expected him to be a starter in the Bundesliga at such a young age. Yet, at only 21, he’s usurped the backup right-back spot from DeAndre Yedlin, Shaq Moore, and others. Scally plays with pace and energy and has most certainly improved his defensive awareness. It might not be long until he’s preferred over Sergino Dest considering Scally is a more solid option defensively speaking.
16. Malik Tillman (PSV)
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Tillman has been COOKING for Dutch giant PSV over the last few months. After a successful loan stint at Rangers, Tillman headed to Holland where his skill set could truly shine. Though a sporadic starter, Tillman has six goals and nine assists in only 23 league matches. A super-sub of sorts, it’s only a matter of time until he breaks through being a consistent starter. As it pertains to the USMNT, Tillman should be given more of an opportunity to showcase his ability in an elevated role.
15. Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo)
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De la Torre is another player taking advantage of his situation. Coming from a lower-level Dutch side to a mid-table La Liga club, it took time for him to break into the side. Most recently, De la Torre has been among the better players on Celta Vigo. The central midfielder is known for his skill and touch on the ball. He loves playing the ball quickly to teammates where he can combine and progress up the pitch. Whether as a central midfielder or in a double-pivot, the 25-year-old San Diego native gives the USMNT some real quality whenever asked to perform.
14. Ricardo Pepi (PSV)
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Pepi is another player biding his time until he can overtake the veteran ahead of him in the pecking order. When PSV does play Pepi, he’s quite potent. This is evidenced by seven goals and an assist in only 23 league appearances (with most of them coming off the bench). Captain Luuk de Jong is 33 years of age, and as such he probably won’t be sustaining the same level he’s been performing at for much longer. Pepi, 21, is arguably the future striker for PSV — and that should be a very exciting notion for USMNT fans.
13. Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis)
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Born to Brazilian parents in New Jersey, the USMNT is over the moon that Cardoso decided to play for the United States. Growing up in Brazil, Cardoso played for Brazilian giant Inter. He garnered a starting spot at a young age — something not overly common in this competitive ecosystem. Cardoso’s consistent play as a No. 6 caught the eye of La Liga club Real Betis. Since making the move to Spain, he’s been one of the team’s better players. The quick acclimation to the European game has many thinking Cardoso could be a starter for the USMNT at one of the defensive midfielder spots sooner than later. At only 21, his potential is through the roof.
12. Josh Sargent (Norwich City)
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Sargent’s form is fantastic at this given time. Starring as Norwich City’s No. 9, Sargent has netted 15 goals and an assist in 22 games. The combination of size, strength, speed, and finishing ability is arguably unrivaled within the player pool. For Sargent, it’s a matter of staying healthy. If he continues on this clip, don’t be shocked if Bundesliga and EPL sides come calling. Sargent is squarely in the mix with Pepi and Folarin Balogun as the USMNT’s top-three strikers.
11. Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth)
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Adams has to stay healthy — plain and simple. This is the main aspect as to why his game has stalled and not progressed as many assumed it would. No longer should Adams be penciled in as an automatic starter for the national team. Not only have De la Torre and Cardoso made big strides over the last calendar year, but Adams unfortunately hasn’t demonstrated the form necessary to command that respect. He’s still a very important player on the team, and there’s certainly a lot of talent there. However, it would be prudent to approach Adams’ future in a wait-and-see mode.
10. Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco)
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When Folarin Balogun announced his commitment to the USA, it sent shockwaves throughout the world of soccer. Balogun, coming off an impressive season at Reims, signed for Monaco and started his journey for USMNT. Although his numbers at Monaco so far have not replicated his previous success, he has had an impressive start with the USMNT, scoring three goals in eight appearances. Balogun is, without a doubt, the best striker the US has at this moment.
9. Tim Ream (Charlotte FC)
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A total stalwart at the back. Tim Ream led Fulham’s backline for the majority of their recent seasons in the Premier League — and for good reason. He’s one of the most solid center-backs in the entire league, and his ability to calmly keep things in control has led him to be a favorite for both the USMNT and Fulham. Now, Ream is playing for Charlotte FC in the MLS.
8. Chris Richards (Crystal Palace)
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The highly rated young center-back, who starts week in and week out for Premier League side Crystal Palace, is one of the most exciting defensive prospects the USA has had in a while. His impressive club resume, with teams like Bayern Munich, shows his impressive potential. At only 23, it’s quite a feat to be starting and playing for so many minutes in the Premier League. He scored a pivotal goal for the US in their 2-0 win over Canada in the Nations League final.
7. Yunus Musah (AC Milan)
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Yunus Musah has played a mostly bench role for AC Milan this season, as well as turning out for their Europa League matches. While he has put in solid performances against opponents such as Slavia Prague and Rennes, Weah will be hoping to solidify his first-team place at AC Milan. At only age 24, we’d back him to achieve this and continue to improve.
6. Tim Weah (Juventus)
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Although he plays alongside national teammate Weston McKennie at Juventus, Weah has struggled to get any meaningful minutes for the legendary Italian club. Despite this, Weah is one of the deadliest goalscorers for the US, exemplified by his cool finish in the 2022 World Cup versus Wales. If he can get on the pitch and have the ability to run at his opponents, you would back Weah in almost any situation.
5. Sergino Dest (PSV)
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Sergino Dest has experienced somewhat of an up-and-down moment in his career lately. From the highest of highs by joining Barcelona, to the lows of being sent off for the United States after not keeping his temper in check, Sergino Dest still ranks up there as one of the better players for the USA. Now turning out for Dutch side PSV Eindhoven, Dest has been putting in impressive performances in the 2024 season, with fans hoping he can similarly return to his amazing form at the international level with the Red, White, and Blue.
4. Giovanni Reyna (Borussia Dortmund)
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Despite Giovanni Reyna’s seemingly endless injury woes, his ability still ranks amongst the highest in the US. The slick midfielder has an eye for both a pass and a goal and is excellent at setting up his teammates. Of course, with his diminishing role at Borussia Dortmund thanks to these injuries, it’s likely Reyna will have to seek a club move elsewhere to refresh his career. One thing is for certain though: when Reyna is on the pitch, danger follows.
3. Antonee Robinson (Fulham)
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Affectionately known as Jedi, the English-born American left-back has solidified his place as not only one of the best players in the US but one of the best in the Premier League — as indicated by his rumored moves to giant clubs like Liverpool. He continues to perform well season-on-season with Fulham and the US, with his marauding runs forward, athletic ability, and dangerous crosses into the box.
2. Weston McKennie (Juventus)
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There’s a reason current Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri describes McKennie as “devastating”. The midfielder is heavily rumored to be receiving a contract extension from the Italian giants — a testament to his ability. Not only is he the best midfielder in America, he’s perhaps one of the best in America of all-time. Although he has struggled with the occasional injury, if he’s on the pitch in full flow, you’ll likely see his iconic Harry Potter wand celebration.
1. Christian Pulisic (AC Milan)
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Captain America. Pulisic is without a doubt the best American player right now. The former Chelsea and current AC Milan star is putting in impressive performances in the 2023-24 season for the Rossoneri, netting 13 goals and eight assists in all competitions — an impressive turnaround from his three goals and assists in his last season at Chelsea. He is a constant threat for the US whenever he is on the pitch.
