Once a promising prodigy, 23-year-old Gio Reyna has turned a turbulent USMNT career marked by controversy into an opportunity for mentorship. No player has benefited more from the start of the 2030 cycle than the Strasbourg midfielder, who may have finally found his role with the USMNT and, above all else, perhaps some peace as well.
The final whistle sounded in the United States men’s national team’s World Cup round of 16 match against Belgium, and the team exited the tournament with its tail between its legs. Gio Reyna, who started the tournament with a wonder goal in the opening match against Paraguay, came on at halftime but did little to impact the game in his limited minutes.
In fact, notwithstanding the Paraguay goal, that was Reyna’s story at the 2026 World Cup, making one start and playing in just 131 minutes across his five appearances.
Christian Pulisic bore the brunt of the criticism following the U.S.’s disappointing exit, and Reyna once again faded into the background of the conversation surrounding another disappointing World Cup campaign. It marked two consecutive World Cups in which Reyna had failed to live up to the enormous expectations placed on him.
Four years earlier, Reyna had been considered one of the top young prospects in world football, with rumors linking him to clubs such as Real Madrid and AC Milan. Then came stagnation, GioGate, and injuries, derailing what had once looked like a promising career.
Between 2022 and 2026, Reyna struggled to find consistent playing time, and after uneventful stints with Nottingham Forest and Borussia Mönchengladbach, he signed with Ligue 1 side Strasbourg ahead of the 2026-27 season.
What many viewed as a step backward has so far looked to be a wise move, as Reyna has finally been able receive coveted game action. Since arriving in France and being handed the club’s No. 10 shirt, Reyna has featured in all five of Strasbourg’s games this season, scoring one goal.
As he arrived at the first USMNT camp of the 2030 cycle, Reyna was ready for a fresh start. The first three games of the new cycle have not only shown that Reyna can still contribute to the USMNT, but they’ve also suggested that Mauricio Pochettino may have finally found the right role for his occasionally inconsistent No. 10. To the surprise of many, Reyna may also be embracing a role few could have anticipated: that of a mentor.
At the Center of the New Generation
Of the 26-man roster that Pochettino selected for the latest USMNT camp, 13 players had yet to make their senior team debut, a sign that the team is ready to enter a new era. One of those new call-ups was 19-year-old Orlando City forward Justin Ellis, who told the media that Reyna had been a source of advice, tips, and guidance to the team’s fresh-faced new arrivals.
For players such as Ellis, Julian Hall, and Cavan Sullivan, the spotlight has arrived quickly, and Reyna has emerged as someone who can help them navigate the pressures that come with it.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the first game against Peru, Reyna acknowledged the changing dynamic within the squad.
“It makes me feel a little bit old, but it’s nice to have a lot of (the new players) here,” Reyna said. “(I want to) try to help them, show them what we’ve built and what we’re striving to build. And then obviously a lot of them are very, very talented or all of them are very talented. So we’re just here to help have them be themselves and just enjoy their time with the team.”
If the young players in the USMNT have shown anything, it is that they are ready for the challenge. The United States have defeated Peru, Chile, and Mexico all in convincing manners, and the team is now preparing to close out what’s been a positive camp against Canada on Tuesday evening.
At the heart of the strong performances from Sullivan, Hall, and Mathis Albert is Gio Reyna.
A Mentor That’s Still Effective on the Pitch
When thinking about a locker room mentor, the first image conjured is often that of an elder statesman who has lost a step physically, yet can still offer value through their wisdom gained from experience.
Reyna, who is entering his eighth season as a pro and his seventh year with the USMNT, has a wealth of experience, yet is still just 23 years old. He’s proven that despite the rough patch he’s weathered over the past four years, there is still plenty of game left in him. Reyna recorded an assist in both of the Peru and Chile matches, and put forth a strong performance against Mexico as well. Overall, it has been an encouraging start to a new chapter for the USMNT.
Still prone to occasionally walking through stretches of a game and fading in and out of the action, Reyna possesses the vision to pick out a pass or deliver a quality cross. Those attributes are essential for a team that can do a lot of running without enough thinking, even when its top players are on the field.
Reyna offers much of what his father, Claudio, brought to the United States: the ability to think, pass, and execute. When Reyna is motivated, the U.S. is a better team, and signs of that motivation are gradually emerging at his new club as well.
It may have taken 46 caps and a few difficult setbacks, but Reyna may finally be finding his place in the USMNT. It might not be the role American fans once envisioned for him, but his talent alone gives him plenty of reason to believe he can still make a meaningful contribution.
In his unexpected role as a mentor, Reyna can draw on his own experience as a player who knows what it feels like to carry the expectations of so many people on his shoulders. That perspective could help the United States’ next generation of talent navigate the dizzying highs and inevitable lows that come with a career in professional soccer.
It is a new cycle and a new Gio Reyna, and U.S. fans have reason to be encouraged. At just 23, he still has plenty to offer. Above all, he finally appears to be at peace.
