Cristian Roldan is the experienced, hard-running midfielder in the USMNT squad, a Seattle Sounders stalwart whose energy and versatility make him a trusted squad option. With close to 300 appearances for one club and a trophy-laden career behind him, Roldan gives head coach Mauricio Pochettino reliability and know-how in midfield at a home World Cup.
A Seattle Sounders stalwart
Roldan has built his entire MLS career at the Seattle Sounders, becoming a club mainstay and a serial winner, with an MLS Cup and a Concacaf Champions League among his honors. Few American midfielders have his combination of longevity and consistency. His Sounders record in our database is below.
| Seattle Sounders (MLS) | Total |
|---|---|
| Apps | 280 |
| Goals | 37 |
| Assists | 31 |
| Chances created | 336 |
What the numbers say
Roldan’s numbers reflect a genuine two-way midfielder. Across 280 appearances he scored 37 goals and added 31 assists while creating 336 chances, the output of a player who contributes at both ends. He covers enormous ground, presses relentlessly and is comfortable centrally or out wide, and his passing volume into the final third shows a midfielder who keeps the team moving forward.
Cristian Roldan and the USMNT
For the United States, Roldan is experience and squad depth, a dependable option behind Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie in midfield. His work rate and tactical flexibility let Pochettino call on him to see out games or fill more than one role. See where he fits in our USMNT roster guide.
USA 4-1 Paraguay and what is next
Roldan was part of the squad but did not feature in the 4-1 win over Paraguay at SoFi Stadium, with Pochettino keeping his experience in reserve. Read the full USA vs Paraguay player ratings. With the group stage complete, the USA have advanced to the Round of 32. Planning to go to a knockout game? See our World Cup 2026 tickets guide. For the bigger picture, see our World Cup 2026 hub and the latest World Cup 2026 winner odds, with more at U.S. Soccer. Must be 21+ and present in a state where betting is legal. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Roldan by the advanced numbers
The depth of Roldan’s Sounders data underlines just how much ground he has covered. Across 280 appearances he has logged 24,414 minutes, played 2,197 passes into the final third and 758 into the penalty area, and racked up 712 touches inside the opposition box. He has also created 46 clear-cut chances, the mark of a midfielder who keeps feeding the attack year after year.
His goal threat is more varied than a holding midfielder’s profile suggests. Seven of his 37 goals were headers and seven came from outside the box, while 25 were struck with his right foot. He is a magnet for fouls in dangerous areas too, drawing 101 fouls in the attacking third, the kind of veteran know-how Pochettino values off the bench.
Cristian Roldan in the USA’s run to the Round of 32
Roldan stayed among the substitutes and did not feature in either the Australia win or the Turkey defeat.
Cristian Roldan is an American midfielder for the Seattle Sounders and one of the most experienced players in the USMNT squad. A long-serving Sounders stalwart, he brings energy, work rate and versatility.
Roldan has spent his MLS career at the Seattle Sounders, where he has made close to 300 appearances and won major honors including the MLS Cup and Concacaf Champions League.
He is a central or wide midfielder, a high-energy, two-way player who covers ground, presses, and chips in with goals and assists.
No. Roldan was part of the squad but did not feature in the 4-1 win over Paraguay, with Pochettino keeping the experienced midfielder in reserve.