ATLANTA — Mauricio Pochettino has preached that club form matters, promised players must be playing to get picked for the World Cup.
And yet here is Gio Reyna.
Highly talented but hardly available, Reyna has logged just 26 minutes this year. That’s not a typo. But it is a trend. The midfielder has barely seen the field for Borussia Mönchengladbach the past two months, but still got called into USMNT camp for two friendlies: Saturday against Belgium and Tuesday vs. Portugal.
As far as form being mandatory, Reyna is the exception.
For a deep run with USMNT in this summer’s World Cup, he may have to be exceptional.
“Yeah, it’s always easier when you’re playing week in and week out. My case is not like that,” Reyna admitted. “Fortunate and, of course, always honored and happy to be back in with the coach’s trust. But yeah, if the opportunity comes up, I still feel very prepared to make an impact this camp on the field.”
The U.S. may have more established and in-form players, but no more innately gifted playmaker.
And while injuries have robbed Reyna, still just 23, of playing time and opportunities to develop, his ability to unlock a defense in a moment of magic is unmatched on this roster when he’s at his best. It’s that last caveat that’s the rub.
It’s all too rare that Reyna is at his best, either physically or mentally.
Since his November 2020 debut, Reyna has 34 caps and has excelled with nine goals and six assists. But groin and thigh injuries hindered his playing time, first at Borussia Dortmund and now Mönchengladbach. And in the last World Cup, attitude and effort led to then-coach Gregg Berhalter limiting his minutes.
Vexed, Reyna’s parents Claudio and Danielle disclosed a 1992 incident in which Berhalter kicked his now-wife, Rosalind.
Now Berhalter has been replaced, Reyna has (mostly) put that fiasco behind him and Pochettino has liked what he’s seen in the midfielder.
Or at least what he hopes to see.
“We really know that he’s a very special talent and a very special player,” Pochettino has said. “And I think to give the possibility, even if it’s not playing too much in his club, it can be very useful for us.”
Behind standouts Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie, there are other attacking midfielders such as Malik Tillman and Brenden Aaronson. But Reyna offers a unique spark.
“Me and Mauricio have a great relationship, speak often,” Reyna said. “He keeps the vibes and energy in this group and in this camp amazing. It’s always an honor to come back. Understanding the club situation, I guess you could say it was one of his more difficult decisions, or controversial decisions, to bring me in.
“Can’t appreciate it enough. Love this team, love this staff, love this group. So just honored to be here. And at the same time, I feel prepared, regardless of the playing time situation at club. So if the chance comes up in the next two games, I have confidence in myself that I can do some good things and make an impact to help.”
Reyna has logged just 398 minutes in 13 Bundesliga appearances this season, with only two cameos in 2026.
But after being left off the USMNT roster for most of last year’s games, Reyna was impressive in November friendlies against Paraguay and Uruguay. He logged 75 strong minutes and tallied the opener in the former game, and set up Tanner Tessmann’s goal in a 5-1 rout in the latter.
He’ll look to replicate that success this week.
“I just get a good and confident feeling from the people here, and the staff want me to be myself, want me to enjoy my game, enjoy my playing. So, it’s simple,” Reyna said. “Of course, there’s guidelines that he wants me to stay within reason, but he gives a lot of freedom to the attacking players, and we really appreciate this because most attackers enjoy freedom.”
For Pochettino, Reyna is the exception.
In the hope he can be exceptional.
