NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 17: Gio Reyna #7 of the United States celebrates scoring with ... [+] Christian Pulisic #10 during the first half against Ghana during an international friendly at GEODIS Park on October 17, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF) Getty Images for USSF Outside of perhaps Christian Pulisic, he is arguably the most talented player on the U.S. men's national team. In fact, Gio Reyna might have more talent in his big toe than some players have in their entire bodies. He's that good. When he is in top form, his passing ability is second to none, finding open teammates where others don't have the vision. He can score goals as well. It's that just Reyna needs to stay healthy, which is a big reason why the 22-year midfielder-forward has not yet come close to his potential for club and country. Reyna certainly isn't the first player to live up to his potential, and he probably won't be the last. But many players come into their own at that age. MORE FOR YOU FBI Warns Chrome, Safari And Edge Users—Do Not Use These Websites You Have 7 Days To Act Following Gmail Lockout Hack Attacks, Google Says NYT ‘Strands’ Today: Hints, Spangram And Answers For Monday, March 17th We have seen flashes of brilliance here and there, but not everywhere. As a 17-year-old, Reyna turned soccer observers' heads, scoring and setting up goals for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga. He became the youngest American to play in the league, beating the record set by Pulisic. In his first Bundesliga match in June 2020, his clever, short touch pass set up Erling Haaland’s goal in a 2-0 win over RB Leipzig. He became the first 17-year-old to record three assists in a game, in Dortmund's 4-0 triumph over SC Freiburg on Oct. 3, 2020. He also became the youngest American to perform in a UEFA Champions League match at the age of 17. So, it should come as no surprise that Reyna was named the U.S. Soccer Young Male Player of the Year in 2020. The expectations were great, realizations, not always so great. However, injuries, average performances and bad luck have stopped Reyna from breaking out at the club level. This Bundesliga season has followed a familiar pattern. Across all competitions for Dortmund, Reyna has made 16 appearances, starting eight times, while playing 545 minutes - the equivalent of just over six full matches. He has scored twice. Reyna sat the bench for Dortmund's 2-0 loss at RB Leipzig in Bundesliga action in his team’s most recent match on Saturday, March 15. Gio Reyna (left) kicking a soccer ball around with his father Claudio some 15 years ago. Photo by Michael Lewis He certainly has good DNA and a personal mentor while growing up as the son of former USMNT captain Claudio Reyna. The elder Reyna enjoyed a 15-year career playing for mostly for European clubs (Bayer Leverkusen, Wolfsburg, Rangers, Sunderland and Manchester City)) before finishing his career with the New York Red Bulls in 2008. Having a well-known parent, however, can work both ways. During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Gio’s parents, Claudio, and former U.S. women's national team player Danielle Egan Reyna, complained to upper echelon at U.S. Soccer that their son wasn't being used enough and properly by head coach Gregg Berhalter during the tournament. That led to an embarrassing soap opera for everyone involved. An investigation by U.S. Soccer delayed Berhalter's rehiring as head coach by six months. MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 09: Head coach Mauricio Pochettino of Paris Saint-Germain reacts during the ... [+] UEFA Champions League Round Of Sixteen Leg Two match between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 09, 2022 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) Getty Images That should be in the past, especially with a new man in charge of the team in Mauricio Pochettino. With the U.S. co-hosting the 2026 World Cup with Canada and Mexico, Pochettino faces a huge challenge. He needs to find a way to forge a competitive American side that will put last year's Copa America disaster (the host U.S. failed to get out of the group stage) well into the past. He needs to find the right mix to pull that off, and the clock is ticking, with some 15 months until the U.S.'s opening match at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on June 16, 2026. Reyna is one of the pieces of the puzzle and a question mark for the new coach. Can Pochettino find a way to get the most out of the talented attacking player in the upcoming Concacaf Nationals League final four this week? The USA plays Panama in one semifinal at the same SoFi Stadium on Thursday, March 20 at 7 p.m. ET (streaming on Paramount+, Univision). The winner will meet the victor of the Mexico-Canada contest on Sunday, March 23. “I think everyone recognizes his talent,” Pochettino said last week. “And of course, he's improving, but he needs to improve. And of course, he can do better. We need to push him, but at the same time, we need to understand how he thinks, what he likes, what he doesn't like.” “I think it's important to create this relationship for the future if he is going to have the possibility again to join us. We want to win this competition, I think he can help. That's why he's with us. But at the same time, I think he can do better. We are going to try to create this relationship, to try to discover it, and how to help.” “It's true that maybe he's not playing too much, but I think for us, he's a great player and we want to consider him.” Sometimes all a player needs is a fresh start with the right team and a coach who believes in him. Maybe he will get a new team sooner than later. There has been plenty of speculation swirling that Reyna could be the subject of a transfer when the window opens this summer. Last week, it was announced he signed with the ROOF agency, his third agent in 18 months. A new agent often can mean a move is on its way. Until that happens, Reyna has some important business to take care of, on the pitch. He needs to play and contribute to the USMNT and Dortmund to raise his stock a few notches. Before Thursday's kickoff, here is something intriguing to consider: Reyna has scored two of his eight internationals (in 31 appearances) against Mexico two Concacaf Nations League finals. He tallied in the 3-2 win in the 2021 final. He added an insurance goal in the USA's dos a cero triumph over El Tri in the 2024 CNL final. Reyna was named man of the match and best player of the tournament. He also was named to the Concacaf Nations League Best XI in 2021, 2023 and 2024. There is little question that when he plays and healthy, that Reyna can be an impact player and then some. Perhaps history can repeat itself a third time and Gio Reyna can perform some more Concacaf Nations League magic and help jump start his career, just in time for the World Cup. Follow me on LinkedIn. Editorial StandardsForbes Accolades