In a compelling display of attacking football, Gio Reyna announced his return to the United States men's national team with a decisive performance that secured a 2-1 friendly victory over Paraguay outside Philadelphia on Saturday.
Reyna's Remarkable Return
The Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder, making his first start for the US since their Copa América elimination on 1 July 2024, needed just four minutes to make his mark. Reyna scored with a powerful header – his first headed goal as a professional – and later provided the crucial pass that led to Folarin Balogun's winner in the 71st minute.
Reyna's performance was particularly significant given his limited club minutes this season, having played just 150 minutes since joining Mönchengladbach from Borussia Dortmund. Manager Mauricio Pochettino had faced questions about selecting a player who hadn't been featuring regularly for his club, but Reyna's display fully justified the decision.
The goal marked Reyna's ninth for the national team, moving him past his father Claudio Reyna's tally of eight international goals. The younger Reyna revealed he only learned of this milestone after the match and had already engaged in some light-hearted banter with his father via text message.
Dest Provides Creative Spark
Alongside Reyna, Sergiño Dest delivered an influential performance from the right wing-back position in Pochettino's 3-4-3 formation. The PSV defender, making only his third US appearance since 2023, combined effectively with Reyna to create numerous attacking opportunities.
While Dest's defensive contributions were less notable, his attacking flair and technical ability caused constant problems for the Paraguayan defence. He nearly scored a spectacular goal in the second half with a powerful shot that forced an excellent save from the Paraguay goalkeeper.
Midfielder Brenden Aaronson praised Dest's versatility, noting: "He can play in so many different positions. He can be really technical in the pocket. He's not only a right back or a right wing back. He can play in that central role. He's an amazing player. He offers something completely different from many other players."
Pochettino's Faith Rewarded
The victory extended the USMNT's unbeaten run to four matches, following previous successes against Japan and Australia and a draw with Ecuador. More importantly, it demonstrated the team's depth amid significant absences.
The Americans were missing several key players including Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Chris Richards and Antonee Robinson. Yet Reyna and Dest stepped up to provide the creative spark that has sometimes been lacking in recent performances.
Pochettino expressed his delight with Reyna's contribution after the match, stating: "I'm so happy with him. He showed why he started. We can see today that he was great, scored, an [unofficial] assist, and [always had] the capacity to read the game and find the free space in between the lines, I think that was a nightmare for Paraguay and he did a very good job."
Reyna revealed that the coaching staff had encouraged him to "play with my instincts, be myself" in the days leading up to the match – advice that clearly paid dividends.
World Cup Implications
The performance raises important questions about how Pochettino will utilise his most creative players as the team builds towards the 2026 World Cup. While the manager has emphasised culture, competitiveness and a truculent attitude, Saturday's match demonstrated that individual brilliance can often prove decisive in tight contests.
Reyna's journey has been particularly intriguing. Once hailed as part of American soccer's "golden generation" alongside former Borussia Dortmund teammates Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham, his international career has been marked by dazzling performances interspersed with injury problems and periods out of favour.
His standout display at the 2024 Concacaf Nations League Finals, where he was named player of the tournament, showcased his potential to influence games at the highest level. However, consistency has remained elusive until this commanding return to the starting lineup.
As the final whistle blew and Reyna shared a moment with Balogun on the substitutes' bench, a telling smile spread across his face – perhaps recognising that this performance could mark a turning point in his international career.
With the World Cup on home soil approaching, the United States will need their most gifted players performing at their peak. If Saturday's evidence is anything to judge by, Gio Reyna and Sergiño Dest could be the X-factors that make the difference when the tournament arrives in 2026.
