Diego Luna`s journey with the U.S. men`s national team took a defining turn during a seemingly minor match last winter. In a January camp game against Costa Rica, the story of his rapid ascent truly began with a harsh blow – an elbow to the face that broke his nose, causing blood to pour out. This painful incident, though unfortunate, became the starting point for the 21-year-old`s quick transition from relative obscurity to a key figure for the national team, endearing him to Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino, who was just months into his tenure.
“I was very surprised, because it was broke, you know?” Pochettino recounted in a post-match interview. “But I didn’t want to say nothing [with] too much drama, because [it might] scare him. I said, ‘How do you feel?’ He said, ‘Please coach, let me keep playing, because at least after the half, I go out.’ The doctor said, ‘Yeah, yeah, okay, you go in.’ And the first action, assist, and we score. I said, big balls.”
Luna`s demonstrable courage is a welcome trait for a USMNT often criticized for lacking competitive drive, quickly earning Pochettino`s admiration. His mental fortitude is now consistently matched by impactful performances on the field, positioning him as arguably the team`s most exciting rising talent. He has accumulated three goals and four assists in 11 appearances for the national team, notably scoring both goals in the crucial 2-1 Concacaf Gold Cup semifinal victory over Guatemala. This puts him firmly in contention for a spot on the World Cup roster less than a year away.
Despite his swift rise this year, Luna`s route to a significant role on the USMNT roster has been unconventional.
Luna`s Unique Path
Today`s USMNT, for all its challenges, boasts some of the most gifted players in its history, many of whom followed typical elite development pathways – through top academies in Europe (like Christian Pulisic) or the U.S. (like Tyler Adams), eventually moving to European clubs. Luna did not follow this standard route. Although he spent time in the San Jose Earthquakes system and a Barcelona residency program in Arizona, his first professional deal was with USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive in 2021. A year later, he joined MLS team Real Salt Lake, where he remains. He is well aware of the difference in his career trajectory compared to many of his national teammates.
“Not having my name be out there and not playing in Europe yet, stuff like that,” Luna commented in March after assisting the USMNT`s goal in a 2-1 loss to Canada in the Concacaf Nations League third-place match. “I think the route that I’ve taken is very different than a lot of players, from academy to USL to MLS to not playing and now starting and honestly, I think it’s been a different route and I’ve always got a chip on my shoulder.”
He added, “I think for me, it’s coming from a difficult background and having to fight for everything I’ve earned. I think it’s easy for me to say that I’m looking for more, working for more and to provide for my family, for my son, for my mom, dad, all these types of things so I think it’s just that and to be able to play for the crest. I don’t know what other motivation you need, right? I think it’s the biggest step in soccer to play for your country.”
Under Pochettino`s predecessor, Gregg Berhalter, Luna was rarely a prominent figure, and he was surprisingly omitted from the U-23 squad for the Olympic Games, a decision that drew attention, including from Utah governor Spencer Cox. Luna had previously navigated opportunities to remain on the fringes of the USMNT setup – he declined a chance to be an alternate for the Olympics and had expressed openness to representing Mexico. However, winning Pochettino`s trust seems to have settled that speculation. Luna`s competitive spirit always seemed well-suited to Pochettino`s vision for the USMNT, a vision that values conviction, especially among players eligible for multiple nations.
“If we really believe that a player can help us and can improve us, of course we are going to be 100 percent involved in that situation,” Pochettino stated in a November press conference. “We don’t need to convince [players]. A player needs to want to play for the for the national team. I am Argentinian. I wanted to play for Argentina … it’s not because of a contract. It’s not because the possibility to play in Europe. No, I was desperate to defend my badge, my flag. We need to be careful. [There is] no need to convince a player. One player cannot be more important than the team or 300 million people. The player, if he’s an American player, needs to be desperate, needs to show that we need him. Because, if not, we are a weak federation.”
Luna`s Standout Year
A native of California, Luna has played for the U.S. at various youth levels and earned his first senior cap in January 2024. However, he truly gained recognition only after his nose injury and the subsequent assist earlier this year.
While one impactful moment doesn`t guarantee future success, opportunities continued to arise for him. In March, when the full senior squad, including European-based players, gathered for the Concacaf Nations League finals in Los Angeles, Luna, alongside others like Patrick Agyemang, had a chance to integrate with the regulars due to injuries to several key players. While established stars like Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Gio Reyna struggled to make an impact in losses to Panama (1-0) and Canada (2-1), Luna provided the assist for the USMNT`s only goal that week. Luna stood out as a positive exception during a string of lackluster performances, earning praise from Pochettino and his teammates.
“Diego Luna played well,” Pochettino said after the Canada match. “The desire and the [hunger] that he showed is what we want and that is not to say nothing against the rest of the people. It’s only one example. When I told [him] today, ‘You are going to play,’ he was ready.”
Christian Pulisic echoed the sentiment.
“He’s an awesome kid, man,” Pulisic said. “He’s got a really bright future. You can see it today. He brings a little something different. He’s got heart and I love the way he plays and like I said, he’s got a big future ahead.”
This summer`s Gold Cup served as a crucial test to determine if Luna`s recent form was a temporary peak or the sign of genuine star potential. Across two pre-tournament friendlies and the six matches leading to the final, there was ample time to evaluate his capabilities, especially within a roster largely missing the USMNT`s typical starters. Luna`s performance, much like the team`s overall, built gradually throughout the summer, with his contributions in knockout matches speaking volumes. He registered two goals and an assist in two such games, demonstrating an ability to deliver in high-pressure situations. Luna was undoubtedly the standout player in the semifinal against Guatemala, scoring two early goals that compensated for a nervous defensive display from the U.S., while he himself remained remarkably composed and confident.
Even before the Gold Cup final takes place in Houston and with 11 months remaining until the USMNT`s first match at a home World Cup, it`s difficult to envision a version of that team without Diego Luna. While winning the continental trophy is the immediate priority, Luna`s rise alone marks Pochettino`s recent squad experiments as a success, having cultivated a crucial element the current U.S. setup desperately needed – a sense of genuine competition for places.
Dominic Ashworth