Gio Reyna is the USMNT’s purest creative talent, a playmaker who can unlock a defense with one touch, and he reminded everyone of that by scoring in the World Cup opener. The son of former U.S. captain Claudio Reyna, Gio carries serious pedigree, and a home World Cup in 2026 is a chance to show it on the grandest stage.
A Dortmund prodigy
Reyna broke through at Borussia Dortmund as a teenager, marking himself out as one of the brightest young attackers in Europe. Injuries have disrupted his progress since, and recent loan spells at Nottingham Forest and Borussia Monchengladbach were about finding rhythm and minutes rather than starring. The table below covers his club career in our database.
| Club | Apps | Goals | Assists | Chances created |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Borussia Dortmund | 168 | 17 | 16 | 103 |
| Nottingham Forest (loan) | 14 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| Borussia M’gladbach (loan) | 25 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
What the numbers say
When fit, Reyna’s quality is obvious. At Dortmund he scored 17 goals and added 16 assists while creating 103 chances, the output of a genuine playmaker rather than a squad filler. His expected numbers back it up, with more than 12 expected assists across that spell.
The caveat is minutes. A long list of injuries means many of his Dortmund appearances came off the bench, and his loan moves brought limited game time. The talent has never been in question; consistent availability has.
Gio Reyna and the USMNT
For the United States, Reyna is the X-factor. He gives head coach Mauricio Pochettino a different kind of player, someone who can pick a lock when a game is tight, whether from the start or off the bench alongside Christian Pulisic. See where he fits in our USMNT roster guide.
USA 4-1 Paraguay and what is next
Reyna made an instant impact in the opener, coming off the bench and scoring the United States’ fourth in the 4-1 win over Paraguay at SoFi Stadium. It was the perfect reminder of his value heading into the Australia game in Seattle on 19 June. For the bigger picture, see our World Cup 2026 hub and the latest World Cup 2026 winner odds, with more on his role at U.S. Soccer.
Gio Reyna is an American attacking midfielder and a creative talent for the USMNT. A Borussia Dortmund product, he is the son of former U.S. captain Claudio Reyna and is one of the most naturally gifted players in the squad.
Reyna came through and made his name at Borussia Dortmund, with recent loan spells at Nottingham Forest in England and Borussia Monchengladbach in Germany.
He is an attacking midfielder, a playmaker who operates between the lines and creates chances, and who can also play off either flank.
Yes. Reyna came off the bench and scored the United States’ fourth goal in their 4-1 win over Paraguay in the opener.