Diego Luna’s path to becoming a prominent figure for the U.S. Men’s National Team is marked by a defining moment: an elbow to the face. This incident occurred in the first half of a match against Costa Rica last winter, an otherwise typical game during the annual January camp. The blow broke Luna’s nose, causing significant bleeding, but it also became the surprising starting point for the 21-year-old’s rapid rise from a relatively unknown player to a national team regular. It also inspired a notable quote from head coach Mauricio Pochettino, who was only months into his tenure.
“I was very surprised, because it was broke, you know?” Pochettino recounted after the game. “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 display of such tenacity, or “big balls” as Pochettino put it, has been a welcome addition to a USMNT often criticized for lacking competitive grit. This mentality quickly earned him favor with Pochettino. In a short period, he has backed up this spirit with tangible results on the field, arguably positioning him as the team`s most exciting emerging talent. He now boasts three goals and four assists in 11 appearances for the national team, including scoring both goals in the USMNT`s critical 2-1 victory over Guatemala in the Concacaf Gold Cup semifinals. This performance significantly strengthens his case for a place on the World Cup roster less than a year away.
An Unconventional Journey
Despite his rapid integration this year, Luna’s trajectory to a significant role with the USMNT has been far from conventional. Many current USMNT players, recognized for their talent, have followed development paths typical of world-class athletes, often through top academies in Europe or the U.S., before moving to European clubs. Luna’s background differs. While he did have spells with the San Jose Earthquakes setup and a Barcelona residency program in Arizona, his first professional contract was with El Paso Locomotive in the USL Championship in 2021. He then joined MLS side Real Salt Lake a year later and has remained there. This difference in his career path compared to many national teammates is something he is keenly aware of.
“Not having my name be out there and not playing in Europe yet, stuff like that,” Luna reflected in March after contributing an assist in the USMNT`s match against Canada. “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 explained his deep motivation: “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 key part of the plans. He also notably missed out on the U-23 squad for the Olympic Games, a decision that surprised many observers. While eligible to represent multiple nations, Luna reportedly declined opportunities to remain on the fringes of the USMNT setup and was previously open to representing Mexico. However, gaining Pochettino`s trust seems to have settled any such considerations. Based on his sheer mentality, Luna always felt like a natural fit for Pochettino’s desired profile for the USMNT.
“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 previously. He emphasized the need for players to possess an inherent desire to play for the national team, rather than needing external convincing. Drawing on his own experience, he added, “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.”
Making His Mark
A native of California, Luna has represented the U.S. at various youth levels and earned his first senior cap in January 2024. However, it wasn`t until the broken nose incident and the subsequent assist earlier this year that he truly began to capture attention.
While one standout moment might not guarantee future success, opportunities continued to present themselves. In March, during the Concacaf Nations League finals where the full senior squad, including European-based players, convened in Los Angeles, injuries to key players created chances for Luna and others. Although established stars like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Gio Reyna were present, the team struggled. Luna, however, was a bright spot, assisting the USMNT`s only goal across two matches and earning praise from both Pochettino and teammates alike.
“Diego Luna played well,” Pochettino commented 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, saying, “He`s an awesome kid, man. 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 provided the crucial test to determine if Luna`s strong form was temporary or a sign of genuine star potential. With pre-tournament friendlies and six Gold Cup matches leading to the final, there was ample time to assess his capabilities, particularly within a squad largely missing the USMNT`s usual starters. Luna`s performance, much like the team`s overall, developed gradually throughout the summer, but the results ultimately spoke for themselves. He delivered two goals and an assist in the two knockout stage matches, showcasing an ability to perform decisively in high-pressure situations. His two early goals against Guatemala in the semifinal were particularly impactful, providing a calm, confident presence on the field and bailing out a somewhat shaky defensive performance from the team.
Even before the Gold Cup final is played and with less than a year remaining until the USMNT`s first match at a home World Cup, it`s difficult to imagine a version of that future squad without Diego Luna. While securing the continental trophy is the immediate priority, Luna`s emergence alone signifies a success for Pochettino`s recent tactical experiments, most notably by cultivating something the current U.S. team has sorely needed: a genuine sense of competition within the squad.
