GOAL takes a look at which American players are playing the best near the end of the European season and with the Gold Cup coming this summer
The CONCACAF Gold Cup is less than two months away, with two international friendlies in June fast approaching. For U.S. men's national team players hoping to earn a call-up, this stretch is crucial. After a disappointing Nations League campaign in March, the USMNT needs a strong response – and that starts with individual players stepping up.
In England, both Josh Sargent and Haji Wright are in fantastic form in the Championship. Sargent is leading front line and is their second-top scorer with 15 goals, and has been scoring for fun lately in the second division. Wright, meanwhile, looks like a new player under the leadership of Frank Lampard as he spearheads the promotion playoff push.
In the Premier League, Tyler Adams has become a mainstay in Bournemouth's midfield in recent months as Andoni Iraola's men search for European football in 2025-26 as the campaign nears a close.
Christian Pulisic, meanwhile, is doing what he can to lead AC Milan to glory this season – but has been surrounded by inconsistency both on the pitch and on the touchline, and it's hit both him and the hard in recent weeks.
Stateside, defender Tim Ream is flourishing under Dean Smith with Charlotte FC. Playing as a left back or left center back, the 36-year-old does not look like he's anywhere near ready to hang up his boots for club or country.
From established USMNT starters to those pushing for a breakthrough, these are the American stars thriving at the club level. This is not a ranking of the best players, overall, but rather a snapshot of who is showing the best form at the moment. GOAL takes a look in this recurring feature tracking the pulse of U.S. talent worldwide.
Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowGetty Images Sport5Christian Pulisic – AC Milan
Pulisic, by all accounts, has been AC Milan's best player in the 2024-25 season – and it's not particularly close, either. However, he hasn't been at his best of late – even if he remains a bright spot in otherwise disappointing season for the storied club.
Since returning from the CONCACAF Nations League, he's recorded two assists across all competitions in five appearances – all of which were starts. He's hit a scoring drought, though. His last goals came ahead of the March tournament when he bagged in back-to-back Serie A matches – and even with the U.S. in March, he went without any goal contribution in the two-match span.
The in general, have been in a slump, too, with just one win across those five matches. Their schedule hasn't been friendly, with the likes of Napoli, Inter, Atalanta, and Fiorentina all on the plate in recent weeks, but the club – and Pulisic – are in a state of stagnation at the moment.
The U.S. will need their talisman to step it up to an even higher level as the campaign comes to a close, as they'll be relying on him immensely this summer at the Gold Cup to help them get their first win since 2021. At the club level, with Serie A and a top-four Champions League spot already out of reach, all the have left to compete for is the Coppa Italia title – and they meet Inter in leg two of the semifinals on Wednesday. Winning that trophy would secure a ticket to the Europa League next season.
Over the past month, he hasn't been at his best, but Pulisic is still performing at an incredibly high level with nine goals and eight assists in Serie A this season. Expectations are, though, that he meets a slightly higher standard than where he sits right now.
AdvertisementGetty4Josh Sargent – Norwich City
Since returning from the Nations League, Sargent has scored three goals in six games. The U.S. striker has shown versatility in front of net all three times, scoring first with his left boot and then two times with his right. He's become an incredible poacher of a striker at the Championship level, though the have struggled overall of late. Winless in their last five matches, they're not bound for promotion – or even a playoff spot – after a tough stretch.
At the March break, they were in pole position to contend for a playoff spot, but recent struggles will have them confirmed to be competing in the Championship next season once again. Manager Johannes Hoff Thorup was sacked on Tuesday, and former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has been promoted to interim manager through the remainder of the campaign as a result.
Sargent, though, has been one of the lone bright spots around the club of late. He's stood out in the final third, and really shown that even though his team might be underperforming, he can still shine.
Although his scoring drought with the USMNT is a drastic one, dating back to 2019, he is the most in-form striker available to the U.S. at the moment. His season total in England is up to 15 goals and five assists in Championship play – and even though Norwich will be in the Championship next season, he may not be. The 24-year-old has been touted for a move to the top flight of England, or even elsewhere in Europe, as he gears up for the next steps of his career.
The lone question around him is if he can replicate it on the international stage, but at the same time, there's no denying he has been clinical in front of goal this season.
Getty3Tyler Adams – Bournemouth
The are flying at the moment, and a big part of that is due to Adams. They sit eighth in the Premier League on 49 points, and are still actively in the hunt for European soccer next season. There are multiple scenarios where an eighth-place finish could see them secure European competition next season, depending on the winners of the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference league this season. That hope itself is keeping their incredible season alive.
“We definitely don't want to get too ahead of ourselves. I think it's playing at [RB] Leipzig for four years and understanding what it takes to qualify for the Champions League every year and how enduring that challenge is,” he explained on the podcast this past week.
"I know what it requires to get to that point. You can't look ahead at games because I think when you start chasing results, that's when it becomes a little bit tricky and things slip up," he added. "So, again, we need to focus on good individual performances, collectively achieving the basics in what we've found to be successful. And then I think then you're looking at big-term goals. But if you look too far ahead of it, I think you slip up."
The U.S. captain has logged 1,530 minutes for the club this season, and since the flip of the calendar year, has locked in his midfield role. However, they hit a rough patch of form in February into early March – but have turned it around in recent weeks with a big win over Fulham, and draws against West Ham and Crystal Palace. Adams was crucial in all three games, specifically in their Fulham clash, where he played 90 minutes, locking down the middle of the park in a tight 1-0 win.
With everything on the line for 2025-26, he's stepped up in recent weeks while taking a leadership role on the pitch. If it pays off, it could earn the European football next year.
Getty Images Sport2Haji Wright – Coventry City
Ahead of a promotion playoff push to the Premier League, Coventry City are benefiting from the resurgence of a red-hot Wright. The 26-year-old winger has scored five times since returning from injury in March, bringing his season total to 11 goals and one assist.
He recorded a hat-trick against Sunderland that month, then followed it up with a powerful finish in a narrow 2-1 loss to league leaders Burnley, who clinched promotion to the Premier League on Monday. Wright has made the most of his late-season opportunities and appears to be thriving under the guidance of Frank Lampard.
"Haji has a laid back way, which is his nature, but he wasn't laid back on the pitch today," Lampard said after his hat-trick in March. "And I have to say the way he moved and the way he won the penalty was high-level stuff from him. As long as he gets his off-the-ball work and transition work right, which he did today, I'm happy. He can play like that, he can run into space, he can hold it up and he can move with it, so yes, I loved his performance.”
Wright made his international debut under Mauricio Pochettino last October, assisting against Panama and coming off the bench in a loss to Mexico. Since then, injuries have kept him out of every senior team camp. But with the U.S. struggling during the March window, he could be a candidate to return this summer, either in the CONCACAF Gold Cup or the two June friendlies.
For the U.S., a striker in form is more than welcome. Wright might just be the answer to some of the problems that emerged last month.
