Gio Reyna might be American soccer's most talented player, and he's ready to prove it in Qatar.
From memorable goals to otherworldly dribbles, Reyna is the kind of player who instantly catches your attention when he is on the field, regardless of the opposition.
And so, with the attention of scouts rarely wavering, the U.S. men's national team star was always destined for the top levels of the game – as long as he stayed healthy.
But keeping on the field has been a struggle for the attacker over the past couple of years, as serious injuries have hampered his development.
With the World Cup looming, though, Reyna is back contributing to Borussia Dortmund, and his return couldn't come at a better time for the USMNT.
Here's a look at his journey to this point, and the reasons why national team head coach Gregg Berhalter is so happy to have him.
Getty ImagesSon of a legend
Playing for the U.S. is in Reyna's blood.
His father, Claudio, is a USMNT icon, having earned 112 caps throughout his illustrious career. His mother, Danielle Egan, was a member of the U.S. women's national team, earning six caps of her own.
Reyna was actually born in Sunderland while his dad played overseas, but he still felt destined to be a member of the Stars and Stripes like his parents.
AdvertisementNYCFCAcademy roots
With his father in charge at NYCFC, Reyna joined the club's academy in 2015.
He spent four years with NYCFC, emerging as the brightest youngster in their setup before heading to Borussia Dortmund.
The club's pipeline didn't end with Reyna, though, as his former teammate and good friend, Joe Scally, ended up earning a move to Borussia Monchengladbach.
(C)Getty ImagesDortmund bound
Reyna followed in the footsteps of Christian Pulisic by moving to Borussia Dortmund.
Pulisic, of course, used the Bundesliga club as a jumping off point for an eventual transfer to Chelsea.
Just 16 years old, Reyna was able to move abroad due to a Portuguese passport earned through his paternal grandmother's ties to the country.
He joined up with the club's Under-19s, but he wasn't outside of the senior team for long.
Getty ImagesFirst-team breakthrough
Reyna made his Bundesliga debut in January 2020, coming on as a substitute against Augsburg.
As a result, he became the youngest American to play in Germany's top flight, beating the mark previously held by Pulisic.
He scored his first goal against Werder Bremen a few weeks later.