Once hailed the ‘wonderkid’ of the USMNT, Gio Reyna has found his star flickering in Mauricio Pochettino’s galaxy. Meanwhile, Antonee Robinson and Christian Pulisic bask in the limelight as the only “automatic starters” on the team. For Gio, it has been a rocky road- a mix of injuries, inconsistent play, and off-field distractions that’s turned his journey into a rollercoaster.

Reyna’s rise to prominence at Borussia Dortmund showcased his unmatched vision, silky dribbling, and ability to deliver under pressure. Those days seem like a long-forgotten lost past now. A training session in September for the USMNT ended with Gio sustaining a groin strain before playing friendly matches against Uzbekistan and Oman. These subsequent fitness issues have resulted in Reyna being more of “what could have been” than the perceptions of “what is.” Ever since being back in training in November this year, he has struggled to find his spot in a Dortmund team rich with hungry talents fighting for places in the line-up.

Adding to this, the controversy between his family and ex-USMNT coach, Gregg Berhalter, was ignited by Reyna’s tantrums during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where in spite of being a very talented player, Gio Reyna was not in the starting lineup, has since proved distasteful to fans. Although perhaps the wounds of that drama have healed, the shadow of it hangs large over his reputation.

In CBS Sports Golazo America‘s recent talk, pundits were busy discussing Gio Reyna’s position in the U.S. Men’s National Team. However, with great recent form in Borussia Dortmund, one does not automatically seal a starting position. And former USMNT forward Charlie Davies noted, “I love watching him play. But an automatic starter? No, that doesn’t exist right now. Outside of Christian Pulisic and Antonee Robinson, there is no automatic starter. That’s just the way it is, and Gio has to stay healthy.” Then, Tony Meola pointed out, “You don’t just walk into the national team“. Reyna is gaining into the debate of arguing consistently for club and country.

Be that as it may, why are Pulisic & Robinson unshakable? This, however, is a little different from being the board-certified stars of Pochettino: Christian Pulisic and Antonee Robinson. Why? They put up electrifying performances at AC Milan, where Pulisic scored an astounding 9 goals and assisted 4 in this season alone- proving why he’s dubbed “Captain America.” Fulham’s Robinson, meanwhile is a defensive Jedi, complete with brutally high speeds and incredibly accurate tackles, that every USMNT fan puts trust in. Both players continue providing what Reyna is often missing: consistency and reliability. They are not just present there; they have activity. Pochettino knows he can count on them in deadlocks, whether breaking defenses down or shutting them out. Now, can Gio regain Poch’s trust?

Can Reyna reclaim his throne?

Dortmund would like to request a replay of the Bundesliga match played on 15th December 2024 against TSG Hoffenheim, for which Gio Reyna scored the last goal. This was his first ever for the club since last May 2023. Before this, Reyna went 583 days without scoring for the Bundesliga giants.

He scored against Hoffenheim with a powerful strike from the edge penalty area after the attempted clearance fell to him. In the same match, Dortmund secured a draw with Hoffenheim at 1-1. This performance reignited optimism in Reyna’s future in European football, particularly after previous injury problems.

At present, Pulisic and Robinson are controlling the charge, while Reyna has the most challenging task: proving that he deserves a place in Pochettino’s circle of trust. Time is ticking, and the USMNT spotlight waits for no one.