Former United States men’s national team goalkeeper Brad Friedel believes Weston McKennie is the most talented player at Mauricio Pochettino’s disposal, despite Christian Pulisic frequently being considered the standout star.

Pulisic is celebrated by fans as ‘Captain America,’ yet his most recent goal for the USMNT came in 2024, and he cut a quiet figure during the international break. The USMNT suffered a crushing 5-2 defeat to Belgium before going down 2-0 to Portugal.

The friendlies were meant to serve as vital preparation ahead of facing top-tier nations at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but the break has ended with more questions than answers. McKennie was one of the few bright sparks for the USMNT, and Friedel is firmly convinced he represents their greatest talent.

The USMNT was missing several key players during the international break, amongst them Miles Robinson, Chris Richards, and Tyler Adams. While Richards did return to the squad for the Portugal fixture, Adams’ absence in midfield was glaringly obvious.

Friedel argues the defeats have been blown out of proportion and that the USMNT should be judged solely on their performances on the competitive stage this summer. However, he conceded that Adams acts as the glue holding the squad together, and that his presence benefits McKennie, which in turn affords Pulisic greater freedom.

USMNT head coach Pochettino is grappling with considerable squad selection uncertainties ahead of the World Cup, with places up for grabs in goal, defence, central midfield, and up front still very much undecided. Friedel argues that, irrespective of other choices, the team’s World Cup prospects rest squarely on the shoulders of McKennie and Adams.

Speaking with Express Sport via Oddspedia, where you can find information about the bet365 bonus code available in the UK, Friedel said: “The U.S., we always had to have our top guys. We’ve never had the luxury of being able to have 30 players deep that could all start, with the exception of one time.

“The 2002 World Cup was the only time when any of the players could have started, and the level wouldn’t have dropped.” Friedel then assessed the current squad, noting, “Tyler (Adams), he’s the glue of the squad off the pitch, he’s one who it doesn’t matter if you’re seven foot tall, if you’re not doing your job, he’ll let you know. He’s one of those kinds of guys.”

Friedel then assessed the current squad, noting, “Tyler (Adams), he’s the glue of the squad off the pitch, he’s one who it doesn’t matter if you’re seven foot tall, if you’re not doing your job, he’ll let you know. He’s one of those kinds of guys.”

“The most talented player for me, and I coached a lot of these guys when I was the head coach of the under-19 national team, the most talented footballer we have is Weston McKennie. He’s so versatile, he has to be fully fit and engaged. He’s looked great for Juventus this season, and he looks really good going into this World Cup.

“If he has Tyler with him, those two, no matter what position Weston is in, Tyler helps keep him in check a lot. You get the best Weston McKennie when Tyler is on the field. If those two are firing, that’s going to release some space for Christian to perform.”

Pochettino confronts a substantial task in preparing the USMNT for the World Cup, with the manager conceding the squad isn’t operating at its zenith, while insisting they’re not far away. A completely healthy Adams would considerably lighten that load, considering the AFC Bournemouth midfielder’s well-documented battle with injuries.