The quadrennial period has arrived: when even minor injuries in professional male football matches could potentially impact the World Cup.
The competition is sufficiently near that a grave injury is no longer a prerequisite for a player’s exclusion. Even a two-month absence brings a host of concerns: Will he be completely prepared by June? Will he have regained his peak condition by June?
A more optimistic interpretation of this notion: The pre-World Cup phase has advanced to where every event in club football begins to seem intertwined with the global sport.
Should a prominent player lose his standing: Will his performance be subpar at the World Cup? If a key player from a favored team begins to perform poorly: Will he even secure a spot on the World Cup squad? If an overlooked talent enters a period of exceptional form: Can his omission from the traveling party be justified? If several forwards from the same nation net a few goals in the same week: Are they compatible on the field?
These observations also hold true for the United States men’s national squad.
The era when the USMNT comprised a handful of European-based players guaranteed a roster spot, supplemented by a heterogeneous collection of MLS talent, has passed. Presently, American players are featuring prominently and excelling in all major leagues and the Champions League, and MLS players possess credible arguments for squad inclusion due to the increasing standard of the national league. Numerous inquiries exist regarding who merits a starting position and who should be selected for the squad, and many skilled, seasoned athletes will find themselves among the substitutes or entirely unselected.
Therefore, to gauge the overall status of all qualified American players, we are unveiling the newest iteration of the USMNT Player Performance Index.
– Assessment: The premier 25 managerial roles in football, categorized from most desirable to least
– The USMNT’s leading U-21 talents for 2026, evaluated
– Methods by which USMNT members navigate the lengthy MLS off-season to maintain World Cup readiness
What is the USMNT PPI again?
Having elucidated this process repeatedly, we shall now be concise. This classification is derived from a formula incorporating three variables: aptitude, on-field duration, and squad caliber.
Aptitude is sourced from Transfermarkt’s projected market valuation for each athlete, representing the most effective and direct metric accessible. On-field duration denotes the proportion of accessible minutes each player has participated in for their club within their national league. And squad caliber originates from Opta’s power rankings, which evaluate every professional club globally and provide a consistent method for gauging the standard of each USMNT player’s club.
The classifications operate on a straightforward assumption: Should an individual participate for extensive periods and their team possess a commendable rating, then they are probably delivering significant contributions to their squad.
The sole seasonal alteration pertains to the emphasis placed on each measurement. As the season advances, our reliance on Transfermarkt valuation diminishes; thus, for this particular publication, it accounts for merely 4% of the evaluation, whereas 18% is allocated to the proportion of minutes played and 78% to the team’s assessment.
Despite the MLS commencing this weekend, we are exclusively utilizing figures from the previous season for all MLS-affiliated players. Furthermore, I have excluded any player who has not appeared in a minimum of 10% of the minutes for their non-MLS club, as well as any MLS player who failed to participate in at least 60% of their team’s minutes during the last season.
Notable absences: Patrick Agyemang has demonstrated considerable efficacy for Derby County, currently occupying a playoff position in the Championship; however, he is disadvantaged by an initial season injury and his team’s modest power rating. Alejandro Zendejas, likewise, has featured in only approximately half of Club América’s minutes, with the team experiencing a subpar year. Cameron Carter-Vickers has been sidelined by injury for a significant portion of the season, and Celtic is also performing below expectations this year. Josh Sargent has been absent from Norwich’s lineup since early January, as he seeks a transfer to MLS, in addition to Norwich’s 17th-place standing in England’s second-division Championship. In the MLS, prominent figures such as Diego Luna and Matt Turner are omitted due to their teams’ poor performance last season.
Consequently, presented herein is the compiled list that categorizes American players according to their club performance…
1. Chris Richards, center back, Crystal Palace
Regard this as evidence supporting the Premier League’s robustness.
Notwithstanding their recent difficulties, Crystal Palace remains classified by Opta as the world’s 22nd most proficient team. Richards, for his contribution, has represented one of the squad’s few stable elements amidst an unpredictable season. He has participated in 84% of the available minutes as a central defender, and Palace’s goal difference improves by almost 0.7 goals per 90 minutes whenever Richards is actively playing.
Richards’ progression — evolving from a Bayern Munich youth hopeful to a Crystal Palace first-teamer — exemplifies the most plausible optimal outcome for any American adolescent joining a European football giant. It is probable they will not attain sufficient prowess to feature for Bayern Munich at the senior echelon, yet this does not preclude them from acquiring invaluable developmental experience and subsequently establishing themselves as a regular elsewhere within Europe’s elite divisions.
2. Tyler Adams, midfielder, AFC Bournemouth
I penned this commentary in December:
“If I informed you that Adams had featured in almost 90% of the game time for a competent Premier League side this season, your response would likely fall into one of two categories: (1) Remarkable, excellent tidings for the World Cup! Or (2) Heavens no, he will sustain an injury prior to the World Cup.”
I am aware that I can be rather severe with anxious USMNT supporters who believe the USMNT ought to be the paramount aspect in every American footballer’s existence, despite 90% of their commitment and income stemming from endeavors distinct from playing for the national team. However, if you observed Adams performing exceptionally at Bournemouth and concluded, “This is unfavorable” instead of “This is beneficial,” then you were somewhat accurate: He sustained an injury promptly after the previous USMNT PPI’s release, and he has been absent from play since early December.
An peculiarity of these assessments is his ascent in ranking despite inactivity, attributed to the updated weighting methodology we implement as the season unfolds. Naturally, he will descend in the rankings shortly if he fails to return to active play.
3. Weston McKennie, midfielder or forward (?), Juventus
Merely three years prior, Weston McKennie was experiencing the nadir of his professional tenure — on a temporary transfer to a Leeds United squad destined for relegation, which proceeded to dismiss several coaches following his arrival. Concurrently, Luciano Spalletti was steering a Victor Osimhen-driven Napoli contingent towards one of the
more astonishing Serie A championships in recent times.
Moving to the present, Spalletti states: “McKennie excels as a central forward. He battles intensely, possesses aerial prowess, and exhibits remarkable leaping ability. He strives for outcomes by making decisive choices. He would be an ideal forward.”
Spalletti assumed the role of Juventus manager in October, replacing Igor Tudor, and, like all previous Juventus managers, he eventually developed an admiration for the American. With McKennie performing exceptionally well for a Juve squad that is considerably better than its record suggests, he ought to return to the starting lineup for the USMNT this upcoming summer. I am uncertain if USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino will actually deploy him as a striker, but it bears reiterating: Weston McKennie just commenced a Champions League knockout stage match as Juventus’s central forward.
He has not contributed a goal or an assist since last year, yet he remains tied for the Serie A lead in non-penalty goals plus assists per 90 minutes. His primary reason for not ranking first in this metric is that he has only participated in approximately 40% of the league minutes thus far this season.
2:49
Ought Mauricio Pochettino to be troubled by Christian Pulisic’s current performance?
The “Futbol Americas” panel analyzes Christian Pulisic’s condition in 2026 and discusses whether it will impact his 2026 World Cup prospects.
International football warps your mind and leads you to utter remarks such as: Well, I suppose he sustained his ACL tear at an opportune moment! Dest missed the Copa América and has not really featured extensively under Pochettino, but two years has proven sufficient for Dest to regain his peak form and re-establish himself as one of the standout players on the Netherlands’ top team.
6. Malik Tillman, offensive midfielder, Bayer Leverkusen
He hasn’t truly ignited the league in Germany, but it speaks volumes for Tillman that his new club dismissed its coach (Erik ten Hag) after his initial few matches with the team, yet he has persistently remained a preferred starter under the new manager, Kasper Hjulmand.
There was a scenario where Tillman relocated to the Bundesliga and simply couldn’t adapt, but that doesn’t seem to be the situation. Establishing oneself as a consistent starter for one of Germany’s superior teams is a rather favorable position to be in as you approach your prime years.
7. Tanner Tessmann, central player, Olympique Lyonnais
What are midfielders expected to accomplish? Fundamentally: distribute the ball and gain possession. According to the assessments from Gradient Sports, Tessmann has executed these tasks at an above-average standard for the third-ranked team in Ligue 1.
Considering he is just entering his optimal performance period, and given that Ligue 1 midfielders frequently transition very effectively to the Premier League, and he is, well, a substantial individual, might a significant financial transfer to England be in his future?
8. Johnny Cardoso, central player, Atlético Madrid
Look! He’s back on the field! And he has been performing commendably, too:
I do not anticipate Cardoso breaking into the USMNT starting eleven anytime soon – the Americans possess too much depth in midfield currently, especially if a back three formation eliminates one of the midfield positions from a 4-3-3 setup – but this should at least reintroduce him into contention for a spot on the final squad.
He suffered a fractured forearm in January – precisely after he had seemingly established himself as a regular starter at PSV, finally.
I would still harbor considerable skepticism regarding the rumored potential transfer to Fulham – but solely from Fulham’s viewpoint. High-scoring Eredivisie forwards often struggle in more prominent leagues, and the majority of Pepi’s goals have occurred against fatigued opponents, coming off the bench.
However, from Pepi’s perspective? He should absolutely transfer to Fulham, challenge himself, and earn a substantial income. The professional soccer player’s career span is far too brief.
2:56
Did PSV err by not offloading Ricardo Pepi?
The “Futbol Americas” panel discusses if PSV Eindhoven made the correct choice by not transferring Ricardo Pepi.
10. Brenden Aaronson, offensive midfielder, Leeds United
In his previous stint, Aaronson did not appear to be a Premier League-caliber player. He exerted himself considerably, pressed aggressively, and contributed little else. However, back with Leeds for his second attempt at England’s premier division, he has almost equaled his total expected goals plus assists from 2022-23, and there are still 13 matches remaining.
Another perfectly timed full-back injury, I presume! After being sidelined at the conclusion of the previous season, he is once again in Fulham’s squad.
There are some inquiries regarding how he might integrate into the USMNT’s new three-at-the-back formation, but if he remains fit and concludes the season strongly, I would imagine Pochettino will devise a method to get him onto the pitch.
12. Timothy Weah, wide player, Olympique Marseille
13. Yunus Musah, central player, Atalanta
14. Alex Freeman, wide defender, Villarreal
He made substitute appearances in his last two fixtures with Villarreal. They are enjoying a *superb* season (in Spain, at least), so it might prove challenging to secure a starting position, but let us pause for a moment: Alex Freeman had not started an MLS game at this point last year, and now he is receiving playing time for the third-place team in Spain despite only joining the club a mere couple of weeks ago.
We are in the fourth year of him tallying fewer goals than his expected-goals projections. This is more concerning than it appears, too, as xG is accumulated across all positions, so we would anticipate the average forward to register slightly *more* goals than their xG indicates. He stands at only 0.43 non-penalty goals plus assists.
every 90 minutes in Ligue 1, but perhaps inquire with PSG about their assessment of his proficiency in front of goal?
Considering all contests, Balogun’s statistics closely resemble those from the previous campaign: a combined 0.5 goals and assists per 90 minutes played. Regardless of Spalletti’s view on McKennie, no other American central attacker possesses the ability to generate such a high output throughout Europe’s top five divisions and the UEFA Champions League.
Simply review his movement without possession leading to those two goals versus PSG. With all due respect to Brian McBride, the USMNT has truly never featured an individual of this caliber.
16. Mark McKenzie, central defender, Toulouse
There isn’t an ideal method to incorporate MLS players into these classifications, and I believe that MLS clubs are, on average, overvalued by Opta’s analytical framework. As an illustration, LAFC is evaluated as being approximately on par with Serie A’s Fiorentina, despite Transfermarkt assigning Fiorentina a team valuation of €247.45 million and LAFC a value of €68.2 million.
Concurrently, MLS’s somewhat opaque, yet pseudo-salary-capped financial framework operates distinctly from how the majority of the global football landscape functions, where the bulk of skilled players are typically channeled toward the wealthiest and most formidable clubs within each division. The premise that top-tier athletes predominantly feature for elite squads isn’t entirely accurate.
Nevertheless, LAFC performed exceptionally well in the prior campaign, and Delgado accumulated a substantial amount of playing time for the club. He would likely be a rotational starter for the USMNT had this been 2014.
18. Aidan Morris, midfielder, Middlesbrough
19. Cristian Roldan, midfielder, Seattle Sounders
Should there be an MLS player about whom we can be assured of their ability to adapt to higher-level contests, that player is Roldan. His performance for the Sounders at the Club World Cup was outstanding, and he has consistently performed excellently for the USMNT in recent international breaks.
22. Haji Wright, forward, Coventry City
Coventry currently leads the Championship standings, and Haji Wright boasts the highest goal tally in the Championship. He probably won’t contend for a starting position with the USMNT, however, whereas the central attacking role was a significant weakness at the previous World Cup, that situation ought not to persist this summer.
24. Jesús Ferreira, forward, Seattle Sounders
25. Tristan Blackmon, central defender, Vancouver Whitecaps
26. Paul Rothrock, attacking midfielder, Seattle Sounders
Upon conducting a Google search for Paul Rothrock’s profile on the FBref website, the initial outcome presented is that very page.
And the second? It reveals a customized query for the subsequent players: “Player Comparison: Paul Rothrock vs. Lamine Yamal vs. Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Viktor Gyökeres vs. Florian Wirtz.” Well done, Sounders supporters.
27. Tate Johnson, fullback, Vancouver Whitecaps
28. Emmanuel Sabbi, winger, Vancouver Whitecaps
29. Justin Haak, central defender, LA Galaxy
30. Jackson Ragen, central defender, Seattle Sounders
31. Joe Scally, right back, Borussia Mönchengladbach
He is being adversely affected by Gladbach’s poor performance this season. Their current position places them three points above the Bundesliga’s lowest three teams.
32. Matt Freese, goalkeeper, New York City FC
33. Max Arfsten, wingback, Columbus Crew
34. Luca Bombino, fullback, San Diego FC
35. Sean Zawadzki, central defender or midfielder, Columbus Crew
36. Roman Celentano, goalkeeper, FC Cincinnati
37. Noahkai Banks, central defender, Augsburg
He ought to be positioned significantly higher, however, Opta’s bias, which overvalues MLS clubs, relegates him further down the rankings. Banks has essentially performed as an average central defender in the Bundesliga — his metrics for passing, ball progression, and defensive duels, according to Gradient, are all consistent with the league’s typical performance.
Such a description might not immediately evoke excitement — that is, until one considers he celebrated his 19th birthday in December and the majority of central defenders typically do not achieve their peak performance until the age of 25 or 26.
Furthermore, wouldn’t a Bundesliga central defender performing at an average league standard prove quite beneficial for the USMNT this summer?
38. Patrick Schulte, goalkeeper, Columbus Crew
40. Matko Miljevic, midfielder, Racing Club
42. Miles Robinson, central defender, FC Cincinnati
44. Nathan Harriel, fullback, Philadelphia Union
45. Giovanni Reyna, attacking midfielder, Borussia Mönchengladbach
The positive aspect: He has commenced a greater number of games than in any prior Bundesliga campaign since 2022-23.
The drawback: He has initiated merely four games, and Gladbach, as previously noted, are certainly not comparable to Manchester City.
Reyna has recorded no goals and no assists, and Gradient’s comprehensive analysis of his display doesn’t offer a significantly improved outlook:
One simply cannot be a mediocre attacking midfielder who simultaneously neglects defensive duties. Is he capable of offering a greater contribution to the USMNT?
46. CJ dos Santos, goalkeeper, San Diego FC
He features in virtually every minute of every match for the leading squad in Serie B. Despite his diminutive stature, Gradient’s “athleticism” metric — a measure that accounts for player physique, substitute appearances, and role to generate a 0-100 score for an athlete’s collective stamina, burst, and velocity — places Busio within the 93rd percentile among central players across Italy’s top two leagues.
The USMNT’s central midfield contingent is likely too dense for him to secure a spot on the World Cup squad, however, he is currently compiling a truly impressive campaign.
50. James Sands, midfielder, St. Pauli