Over the last few years, US soccer has seen an unprecedented rise of talented youngsters, making European clubs turn their attention to the Major League Soccer (MLS) for promising young footballers — with the German Bundesliga being a preferred destination.
The year 2022 is a big year for American football. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar later this year, many eyes will be on the United States Male National Team (USMNT) players due to the fact that USA will co-host the next World Cup in 2026 alongside Canada and Mexico.
But injuries have affected most of the top American stars this season, with the likes of Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Sergino Dest, and Giovanni Reyna seeing their game time and forms affected by injuries.
TOP SOCCER BLOG brings you the top 10 US soccer players in 2022.
1. Jordan Pefok (Young Boys)
Theoson-Jordan Siebatcheu, who is popularly known as Jordan Pefok, has been on fire this season. The striker plays for Swiss giants Young Boys and has 22 goals and 5 assists in 39 matches in all competitions so far in 2021/22.
Pefok came into the limelight on September 14, 2021, when he scored the winning goal in the final minute of stoppage time in Young Boys’ 2-1 victory over Manchester United in the opening match 2021/22 UEFA Champions League season.
2. Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig)
Adams has been among the top performers for the USMNT in the last few years and hasn’t relented this season. The 23-year-old midfielder has made 29 appearances for Leipzig in all competitions in 2021/22, including 5 in the UEFA Champions League.
3. Brenden Aaronson (RB Salzburg)
Brenden Aaronson is America’s breakout star this season. The 21-year-old midfielder has shone for Salzburg in 2021/22, including in the Champions League.
His most outstanding performance this season was against Bayern Munich in the first leg of the UCL round of 16, where Salzburg famously held the Bundesliga leaders to a 1-1 draw.
Aaronson has so far made 35 club appearances this season, scoring 5 goals and providing 10 assists.
4. Ricardo Pepi (Augsburg)
Pepi was America’s most outstanding youngster in the MLS in the 2021 season. The 19-year-old striker scored 13 goals and made 2 assists in 31 appearances.
His impressive displays earned him a $20m transfer to Bundesliga side Augsburg in January 2022 — making him the most expensive American player to move from the MLS to Europe and the most expensive transfer in Augsburg’s history.
Much is expected of Ricardo Pepi in the future.
5. Antonee Robinson (Fulham)
Robinson broke through at Everton, but his lack of regular playing time in the first team forced him to move elsewhere.
This season, the left-back has been instrumental in Fulham’s quest to secure promotion back to the English Premier League. The London club are currently leading the Championship with 8 points.
Antonee Robinson has made 32 appearances so far, scoring three goals and providing four assists.
6. Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach)
Joe Scally has been impressive for Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga this season. The right-back has made 26 appearances so far, with a goal and an assist to his name.
7. Weston McKennie (Juventus)
This season, Weston McKennie has not been performing at the same level he was in previous years, probably due to the managerial change at Juventus. He has also seen his game time affected by injury.
McKennie has four goals in 28 appearances in all competitions and is one of those players that Americans are expecting to star for the USMNT at the World Cup in Qatar.
8. Christian Pulisic (Chelsea)
Injuries and tough competition for places at Chelsea has affected Pulisic’s form and game time this season.
But despite his struggles at club level, Pulisic is the USMNT’s most high-profile player and captain, and US soccer fans are hopeful that he will experience a huge turnaround in fortunes before the World Cup.
The forward has six goals and four assists in 28 matches in all competitions so far.
9. John Brooks (Wolfsburg)
Brooks is an experienced defender who plies his trade with Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga. He was also featured in their Champions League adventure this season.
So far, the 29-year-old has made 29 appearances.
10. Sergino Dest (Barcelona)
Sergino Dest has been affected by Barcelona’s early-season woes in 2021/22. But with the Catalans making massive improvements under Xavi, Dest’s form is expected to also improve. He is currently injured.
He has made 27 appearances so far, with three assists contributed.
NOTABLE MENTIONS:
- Giovanni Reyna (Borussia Dortmund)
- Yunus Musah (Valencia)
- Chris Richards (Hoffenheim)
- James Sands (Rangers)
- Jack Steffen (Man City)
- Timothy Weah (Lille)
- Konrad de la Fuente (Marseille)
