American soccer legends Landon Donovan, Alexi Lalas and Maurice Edu have all rushed to praise Diego Luna as he looks set to battle Malik Tillman to become the USMNT’s starting number 10 at next year’s FIFA World Cup.
Luna scored both goals on Wednesday night in America’s 2-1 Gold Cup semi-final victory against Guatemala, continuing the midfielder’s meteoric rise from the USL to international stardom.
Speaking on FOX Sports, Donovan emphasized just how impressive the 21-year old’s performances have been: ‘Guys, three years ago, Diego Luna was playing in the USL, for the El Paso Locomotive. I literally coached against him – the second division of America.’
‘Today, he pushed his team to the Gold Cup final. Incredible story, could not be happier for that young man.’
Having scored his first ever international goal in America’s tense quarter-final win over Costa Rica on penalties, Luna now has three goals in two games for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
The Argentinian head coach will hope that Luna’s superb form in 2025 will help propel the USMNT to an upset against tournament favorites and defending champions Mexico in Saturday’s final.
Diego Luna scored twice in the first 15 minutes to send America through to the Gold Cup Final
Landon Donovan faced Diego Luna while coaching in the USL three years ago
Despite being left out of last year’s Olympic squad, Alexi Lalas believes that the 2003-born Real Salt Lake star is starting to put himself in contention for a starting position at the World Cup: ‘He’s doing the right things, he’s saying the right things, and those moments that are coming are memorable’.
Lalas, who made 96 appearances for America’s national team, also credited Luna for silencing some of the side’s many critics ahead of this year’s Gold Cup: ‘It’s in the context of a team that came into the tournament, where there was a lot of negativity towards this team. And there still is. I’m sure there’s a lot of people who aren’t sold on, whether its Diego Luna or anyone else out there. But sports are for the moment. You have to be able to celebrate these moments.’
‘It’s fun to see others celebrate this team in terms of what they are doing. A lot of it is for someone like Diego Luna. For the way that he plays, and the way in which he holds himself when he plays.’
Lalas’ description of Luna as a much needed breath of fresh air for America is one that Maurice Edu has also agreed on, going as far as to say that the question has now shifted away from whether or not Luna can make the World Cup side and rather If he will be good enough to earn a start: ‘I feel like the two of them are competing for that No. 10 position, Luna and Tillman’.
Luna and the rest of Pochettino’s side will look to secure America’s eighth Gold Cup title on Saturday as they return to the final for the first time since 2021 in what will be their last competitive game before next year’s World Cup.
