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USMNT: Top 3 attacking midfielders for 2022 World Cup qualifying

By Andrew Dowdeswell

USA's Tyler Boyd (R) embraces teammate Weston McKennie after McKennie scored a goal in the first half during the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinal football match between USA and Curacao in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on June 30, 2019. (Photo by DOMINICK REUTER / AFP) (Photo credit should read DOMINICK REUTER/AFP/Getty Images)
USA's Tyler Boyd (R) embraces teammate Weston McKennie after McKennie scored a goal in the first half during the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinal football match between USA and Curacao in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on June 30, 2019. (Photo by DOMINICK REUTER / AFP) (Photo credit should read DOMINICK REUTER/AFP/Getty Images) /
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USMNT, Brenden Aaronson
CHESTER, PA – MAY 29: Philadelphia Union Midfielder Brenden Aaronson (22) dribbles the ball during the second half of the MLS match between the Colorado Rapids and the Philadelphia Union on May 29, 2019, at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, PA. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. Brenden Aaronson

Another young prospect who could establish himself as a key part of the future of the USMNT, Brenden Aaronson has exploded onto the scene throughout 2019 which resulted in being called up for the first time in October and then again for the January camp, when he later made his USMNT debut versus Costa Rica.

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Unlike Reyna, however, Aaronson is playing regularly for a senior team. He might have only turned 19 last October, but Aaronson was ever-present for an excellent Philadelphia Union team last season, keeping Ilsinho and Marco Fabian out of the starting XI in the process. In his first season as an MLS player, he played over 1,700 minutes and started both matches of the suspended 2020 season.

Aaronson was superb in the latter of those matches, a 3-3 draw with Los Angeles FC. Against the best central midfield in MLS, Aaronson more than held his own, scoring a goal and playing with that modernised combination of creativity and tenacity that every team now looks for.

He might not have the same ceiling as Reyna, who is already making waves in Europe, but the Union star is more experienced and is ready to start for the USMNT now. He and Paxton Pomykal are MLS’ shining young American stars. They will be fighting for a spot in the USMNT midfield for years to come, starting in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

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