The Top 100 U.S. Men's National Team Prospects
We have decided to team up with a group of scouts to present our top 100 U.S Eligible prospects. Due to the number of players playing abroad, it is often difficult to find film. We will leave a list at the end of the article of known players who are eligible for the USYNT. This will not be a list ranking numbers 1-100. Instead, we have designed a system to rate the prospects. Prospects will be defined by a rating out of 10. To give some context, anything above a 9/10 we would consider world class potential. 8/10 would be a starter for one of the top 15 teams in the world. For example Pulisic would be around an 8.6. We would consider a 7/10 would equate to a possible player for the USMNT roster like Brendan Aaronson or Haji Wright. A 6/10 would be a player that could possibly make their USMNT debut in the future, and a 4/10 or above would equate to a solid professional career.
Forwards
Cole Campbell - Borussia Dortmund 8.2/10
Cole Campbell is an electric winger born in 2006 for Borussia Dortmund. Campbell has already made his professional debut for the club in the UEFA Champions League and the Bundesliga. Campbell is best has the ability to float inside similar to Christian Pulisic, and make things happen as a number 10.
Fidel Barajas - Chivas 6.1/10
Fidel Barajas made his move from Real Salt Lake to Chivas earlier this year. He was named USL Championship player of the year last season. Fidel has struggled to get real minutes this season with Chivas. It remains to be seen whether he will make a move next season.
Keyrol Figueroa - Liverpool FC 5.3/10
Keyrol Figueroa led the USYNT U17 team in the CONCACAF Championships in goals scored. He is a traditional number nine mainly playing with the Liverpool U21s, but sometimes dropping to the U19s due to the amount of U21 players Liverpool has.
Bryce Jamison - Orange County SC 6.4/10
Bryce Jamison is a winger who currently plays in the USL Championship. Jamisom is a winger who also shows some potential as an outside back. If he becomes a wing-back or outside back later in his career he could become an interesting player for the USMNT.
Aidan Dausch - Coventry City 5.8/10
Dausch operates more of a center forward; he also floats into the midfield. This provides a dynamic option for his club and national team. He can definitely become a solid EFL Championship player or even a lower tier Premier League player.
Andre Gitau - Wormatia 4.8/10
Gitau has been somewhat under the radar for the past couple of years. He used to be a promising player for the USYNT 2006 group, but left the Houston Dynamo for relatively unknown reasons. Now he is in the German fifth tier.
Julian Palacias - Westarlo 5.7/10
Julian Palacias is an exciting forward who originally started with the LA Galaxy before taking the USL Route, and now he is in Belgium. A true center forward who made a big impact for North Carolina before leaving, and now he is a part of their second team setup.
Gavin Turner - DC United/Virginia 6.5/10
Gavin Turner is an exciting prospect for DC Unite, but he has already committed to the University of Virginia. Turner has trained in England at West Ham. He will be one to monitor if he ends up making the jump to college.
Justin Ellis - Orlando City 6.9/10
Ellis has dominated the youth leagues for a while now. He is an incredible number nine for Orlando City, and he has even scored for their second team. Only time will tell if Orlando gives Ellis a professional contract.
Tomo Allen - San Jose Earthquakes/Stanford 6.7/10
Another 2007 player similar to the other two we have mentioned. Allen has dominated the youth ranks from the number nine position. He is a goal scoring machine, and only time will tell whether he will be given a pro contract with San Jose.
Jykeese Fields - TSG Hoffenheim 5.7/10
We have seen limited film on Fields, so take this with a grain of salt. He guest played for FC Cincinnati at last year’s Generation adidas Cup. He was very good for them, but we have unfortunately seen limited footage since.
Zavier Gozo - Real Salt Lake 4.9/10
Zavier Gozo is a special talent for Real Salt Lake. He had a relatively unproductive season in MLS Next Pro last year, but he did make a few appearances for Real Salt Lake’s first team. Gozo will be interesting to watch this year to see if he can raise his stock.
Diego Rocio - Philadelphia Union 5.8/10
Diego Rocio is a top player who has been playing for Mexico U18s as of late. He plays for the Philadelphia Union U18 team, and has been one of the best players for them over this past year.
Nimfa Berchimas - Charlotte FC 8.4/10
Berchimas is one of the best youth players on this entire list. He starred at the U17 World Cup with the USYNT, and has also made an impact for Charlotte’s second team. In addition to this, he is currently on trial at Manchester Untied.
Julian Hall - NY Red Bulls 8.6/10
Hall has had the most impact on the professional game out of any 2008 player this season. He won the Eastern Conference with the NY Red Bulls, and provided three goal contributions during the season.
Alexander Staff - Frankfurt 8.2/10
Staff has an incredibly high ceiling as a number nine. He has featured for Germany youth teams, and has not yet played for the USYNT. It will be interesting to see how his situation develops over the next few years.
Austyn Jones - PSV 7.2/10
Jones has been with both the Dutch and USYNT setups. He most recently played for the United States, and will more than likely represent the USYNT next year at the U17 World Cup. He also recently made his Uefa Youth League debut.
Chase Adams - Columbus Crew 5.8/10
Chase Adams has shown great production in MLS Next Pro this season. He was among the top U18 goal scorers in the league, but the question wavering is can he do it at the international level. It will be interesting to see if it plays out over time.
Jamir Johnson - Philadelphia Union 6.5/10
Jamir Johnson, like many others on this list, is an electric winger. He is dynamic in 1v1 scenarios. He is currently in the pool for next year’s U17 World Cup, and that tournament could very well serve as a breakout tournament.
Anisse Saidi - Philadelphia Union 5.7/10
Anisse Saidi is an interesting center forward prospect. He is clearly valued by clubs abroad, but Philadelphia Union are yet to give him a professional contract. He could be one to keep an eye on in the coming months headed into next season.
Mathis Albert - Borussia Dortmund 9.3/10
Our first player on this list is our own attacker rated at an over 9.0 potential. Albert has skyrocketed onto the scene with LA Galaxy and the USYNT before making the move to Borussia Dortmund. Albert is nominated for USA young player of the year this year, and is already a key player for the Dortmund U19 squad.
Omar Hassan - Seattle Sounders 6.5/10
Hassan is still obviously a young player, and his potential will continue to rise. Hassan is still relatively small in stature, but he has incredible pace. He has also already scored his first professional goal for the Tacoma Defiance.
Zidane Cadet - Inter Miami 7.3/10
Zidane Cadet is a striker for Inter Miami. He has proven to be pivotal for the USYNT age group. He is pretty much seen as the number one striker in his age group, and he is most definitely a proven goal scorer.
Kashan Hines - Sporting Kansas City 6.5/10
Hines is a winger for Sporting Kansas City’s academy. Hines is yet to be looked at in any USYNT camps, but he is a highly rated winger for the club. Hines has continuously played up with Sporting Kansas City’s academy teams.
Malik Jakupovic - Philadelphia Union 6.2/10
Jakupovic is a center forward with the Philadelphia Union academy. He has played up for their U18 squad many times this season. He is also on the radar of the USYNT and the Bosnia federation.
Darris Hyte - Chicago Fire 5.5/10
Hyte is a winger for the Chicago Fire. He won MVP at MLS Next Cup last season, and has also made multiple appearances with the USYNT.
Elias Walker - Portland Timbers 5.4/10
A 2009 born striker for the Portland Timbers Walker is more than a proven goal scorer in MLS Next. Elias is often not talked about a ton in the USYNT space, but he is a name everyone should look out for.
Jamil Danjaji - Columbus Crew 7.9/10
We are hesitant to give these 2010 born players super high ratings, but Danjaji is a promising prospect. He is incredible on the wing, and can also play center forward as well. His off the ball movement is also among the best in the country.
Da’Vian Kimbrough - Sac. Republic 7.2/10
The youngest professional debutant in American sports history rightfully takes a palace on this list. He is a strong talent, but unfortunately at this time, he looks to be choosing Mexico. Kimbroguh can play many additional positions on top of being a striker.
Timoni Gbalajobi - Philadelphia Union 6.3/10
Again, we are hesitant to rate the 2010s super highly as it is just the beginning of their USYNT careers. This is why we have a lower number of 2010s on this list. Nonetheless, we still decided to include some like Gbalajobi. If he is able to develop like Union strikers before him, he will become a special player.
Tanner Rosborough - NY Red Bulls 6.0/10
Rosobrough is a top player for the New York Red Bulls U18 team. He is in contention for the USYNT U17 World Cup team next year, and will be vying for his chance.
Eddy Davis - Philadelphia Union 5.6/10
Davis was a goal scoring machine in MLS Next Pro last season. He was among the top players in the league winning rising star of the month multiple times.
Zidane Yanez - NYCFC 6.4/10
Yang recently just won the golden ball at the U15 Championships in South America. Only time will tell wether he chooses the United States.
Midfielders
Pedro Soma - FC Barcelona 6.7/10
Soma is a player for FC Barcelona B. He is a dynamic center midfielder who primarily plays at the 6 position. He has also played a bit of outside back for the club as well. It will be interesting to see how he can develop in the future.
CJ Olney - Philadelphia Union 6.3/10
CJ Olney is more of an attacking minded midfielder. He has been a key player for the Philadelphia Union II squads in the past two seasons, but yet to make an impact on the first team.
Taha Habroune - Columbus Crew 5.8/10
Habroune has already had his first MLS start and made the bench for the first team numerous times. He is a traditional box to box midfielder that the United States will likely bring into next year’s U20 WC.
David Vazquez - Philadelphia Union 5.6/10
Vazquez hails from the Philadelphia Union organization. Vazquez can also be seen as a winger, but we decided to put him in this category. Vazquez usually plays on the outside of a midfield four for club and on the wing for country.
Victor Enrqieuz - Portland Timbers 5.7/10
Victor Enriquez is one of the only players on this list to have never received an international callup. Despite this, he was one of the next U19 midfielders in MLS Next Pro last season. He is more of an 8 or a 10, and will be interesting to see if he gets more MLS opportunities next season.
Darius Lane - Brighton 6.9/10
Lane is a central midfielder for Brighton. He has made appearances with the USYNt, and he was even called up to the Olympic camp as a training player.
Nate Worth - Tampa Bay Rowdies 6.5/10
Nate Worth is certainly an interesting player and one to track. He has played for FC Tulsa and the Rowdies, and was one of the best young players in USL just a year ago.
Owen Anderson - Real Salt Lake 6.1/10
Owen Anderson is an attacking midfielder from Real Salt Lake’s academy. He was exciting for their MLS Next Pro team this season, and it is heavily rumored that he will sign a homegrown contract soon.
Benjamin Nagel - FC Twente 7.5/10
Benjamin Nagel is a midfielder who has captained the Dutch U16 squad, but he still has USYNT eligibility. He is a 6/8 midfielder who can most definitely become a notable professional player one day.
Jude Terry - LAFC 8.4/10
Jude Terry recently signed his first pro contract with LAFC. Terry is an exceptional player often leading the U17 USYNT while he is wearing the captain’s armband. Terry is eligible for Argentina and Mexico, and it has been reported that both nations are tracking him.
Maximo Carrizo - NYCFC 7.9/10
Carrizo is a key player for the USYNT U17 squad and NYCFC II. He has been named to the bench before for NYCFC. A small technical midfielder who is brilliant on the ball.
Chrsitano Olivera - New England Revolution 6.8/10
Christiano Olivera is a player who is not always talked about in the USYNT, but he deserves to be. He plays a similar role that Jude Terry does for the Revolution, and Olivera has been productive for the second team in his time.
Landon Emelano - Chelsea FC 7.3/10
Landon Emelano has been with both USYNT and England camps in the past couple of months. Following his appearances with England last month in European Championship qualifiers, Emelano will be with them for this cycle.
Viggo Ortiz -Charleston Battery 6.2/10
Viggo Ortiz is currently one of the best players for Mexico’s U17 squad. He is dynamic on the pitch, and is able to dribble by nearly anyone. He recently moved to the USL from Austin FC earlier this year.
Jack Mize - Borussia Dortmund 6.7/10
Mize plays for the Dortmund U17 squad, and he has developed into a solid central midfielder. He has also made multiple appearances with the USYNT in camps.
Decarlo Guerra - LAFC 7.8/10
Decarlo Guerra is in a very similar situation to Jude Terry. Both 2008 players are from LAFC, Guerra is more of a 6 while Terry plays a bit higher up for them. Guerra is currently a part of Guatemala’s U20s.
Liam Lambert - 6.5/10 Unknown
A third LAFC academy grown midfielder makes this list. Liam Lambert is reportedly no longer with the club, but we have seen no confirmation of his move, so he could still be at LAFC we are just unsure.
Kaedren Spivey - San Jose Earthquakes 8.1/10
Spivery is one of the best 2009 p;ayers in the entire country. A true number 8 playing for the San Jose Earthquakes Academy Spivey has a ton of potential, but San Jose must play him up. This is something we have not seen a ton of yet.
Robert Turdean - Chicago Fire 8.5/10
Turdena is an extremely exciting player to watch. Turdean has been playing anywhere from 1 to 3 years up with the Chicago Fire for a while now. He is already drawing major interest from clubs in Europe following his impressive performances with the Fire.
Adri Mehmeti - NY Red Bulls 8.3/10
Adri Mehmeti is one of the best central defensive mid prospects. Mehmeti just signed a professional contract, and he has trained with RB Leipzig multiple times.
Ademar Chavez - Fc Cincinnati 7.1/10
Chavez recently moved from LAFC to FC Cincinnati. Overall, he is an exciting midfielder who is not afraid to attack anyone when he has the ball at his feet. WE would expect Cincinnati to sign him in the coming years.
Xander Newstead - AJAX 6.8/10
Xander Newstead is another 2009 born midfielder, but Newstead is currently in the Netherlands for Ajax. He has been in a USYNT camp before, and he reportedly played well.
Cavan Sullivan - Philadelphia Union 9.3/10
Sullivan is likely a name everyone reading this article knows, so we will keep it short. Cavan Sullivan has a phenomenal skillset for an attacking midfielder, and remains the youngest debutant in MLS history.
Vicente Garcia - LA Galaxy 7.5/10
Vicente Garcia is a 2010 who plays for LA Galaxy. He is solid on the ball, and his technical abilities are far better than most 2010 born players.
Will Recupero - Stuttgarter Kickers 7.8/10
Recupero is a former member of the Boston Bolts academy before he reportedly moved to Germany. The move was unclear at first whether he is actually in Stuttgart’s academy. Only time will tell.
Matthew Arana - Houston Dynamo 7.1/10
Arana is a Mexican-American international who plays for the Houston Dynamo. He is very good on the ball dribbling wise, and can pick out a pass better than nearly every other midfielder at his age.
Juan Martinez - LA Galaxy 6.4/10
Martinez is a solid player who can represent both Mexico and the United States. Martinez plays for the LA Galaxy, and is very talented on the ball.
Lewis Daley - Sporting CP 5.8/10
Daley recently moved from the Philadelphia Union to Sporting. He is a talented baller for the club now, and has been called up to multiple USYNT camps.
Jonathan Shore - NYCFC 6.1/10
A solid central midfielder for NYCFC. Continuously making appearances in MLS Next Pro alongside their other top talent.
Santi Morales - Inter Miami 6.1/10
Morales frequently captains the Inter Miami II squad, and he is a top player for them. He went to last year’s U17 World Cup, and is a top young player in MLS Next Pro.
Dylan Borso - Wake Forest 5.6/10
A true talent who is killing it in college soccer right now. Borso has become one of Wake Forest's best players in just his first season. Will be interesting to see if Philadelphia decide to sign him.
Defenders
Noahkai Banks - Fc Augsburg 8.2/10
Noahkai Banks is a central defender for FC Augsburg in the Bundesliga. He has already made the bench for the German club multiple times, and is a regular with the second team.
Matai Akinmboni - Bournemouth 6.8/10
Akinmboni has made multiple MLS appearances with Dc United before he made the jump to Europe to play in England. Akinmboni will likely join their PL2 side and represent the USYNT at the U20 World cup next year.
Oscar Verhoeven - San Jose Earthquakes 5.7/10
Verhoeven is an outside back on a homegrown contract with the San Jose Earthquakes. He is a very attacking minded defender. He can play on either side as well.
Owen Presthus - Columbus Crew 6.5/10
Presthus is another outside back who balled out in MLS Next Pro last season. He is poised to make a case for himself to be on the first team in this upcoming season.
Aidan Harangi - Eintracht Frankfurt 5.5/10
Harangi is an outside defender in Germany, but he originally is from Virginia. Harangi was in the U17 World Cup squad last year, and he performed well at the tournament.
Neil Pierre - Philadelphia Union 7.2/10
Neil Pierre is a physical force at center back for the Philadelphia Union. Pierre has been with the U20 USYNT squad, and many claim he should get a chance in MLS with Philadelphia.
Tyler Mesier - BVB 7.4/10
Messier is a central defender for Borussia Dortmund’s U19 and second teams. Mesier is yet to represent the USYNT at any level.He has represented Germany and is a key player for them, will be interesting.
Peyton Miller - New England Revolution 7.6/10
Peyton Miller turned into a consistent starter in MLS this season for a solid stretch. He made an impact on the game providing multiple goal contributions. He is expected to be on the U20 World cup roster.
Christian McFarlane - NYCFC/Manchester City 6.9/10
Chrsitian McFarlane currently represents England U18s but holds a USYNT eligibility. He looks to be on his way to Manchester City at some point in the near future.
Drew Baiera - NYCFC 6.5/10
Baiera is the second player on this list from NYCFC. Baiera has really performed well for the USYNT U19s teams recently, and this form has also been shown in MLS Next Pro.
Prince Forfor - Columbus Crew 7.1/10
Has a very high ceiling. After making the switch to Columbus Crew has changed to a wing back. Most definitely one to watching the coming years.
Michael Bresser - PSV 6.8/10
Bresser is a 2007 outside back who can play both right and left. He is a solid player who has even been on PSV’s bench this year.
Dominik Chong Qui - Atlanta United 5.9/10
The Atlanta United player has started to make an impact on the professional game. He has scored a few beautiful goals, and is quickly becoming a top young play in MLS Next Pro.
Chibuike Ukaegbu - Sac. Republic 5.7/10
Ukaegbu plays in the USL Championship with Sacramento Republic. He has made many appearances for the side, and is turning out to be a strong player.
Wes Okoduwa - Wolverhampton Wanders 7.0/10
An outside back hailing from England who holds English, Nigerian, and United States passports. Okoduwa plays for the U21s mainly, and he has made teh first team bench before.
Ian James - Sporting KC 7.2/10
James is a top player in this 2008 class. He is one of the first names on the roster team sheet, and should probably be a starting central defender at the World Cup next year. James also just signed a homegrown contract.
Ramiz Houda - Birmingham Legion 7.1/10
A very similar player to Ian James. Hamouda got some minutes this year in the USL Championship this year, and it is likely he will be on the World Cup squad next year.
Christopher Cupps - Chicago Fire 6.7/10
Another center back from the 2008 class. Cupps has been a great player for the Chicago Fire youth teams, and on this track of development he will certainly become a solid professional player in the coming years.
Pedro Guimares - Orange County SC 5.9/10
Guimares moved from LAFC to Orange County SC in the summer of this past year. He has made appearances for the club, and is a key player for the USYNT.
Keehan Barrett-Underwood - Liverpool FC 5.7/10
Underwood was recently called into his first USYNT camp. He had previously represented England U16s, it is unclear who he prefers.
Victor Vandenbroucke - Gent 6.5/10
Vandenbroucke can play either right back or center back. He has also been in the USYNT setup. Vandenbroucke has also captained the Belgium youth teams as well.
Ethan Degeny - FC Metz 7.0/10
Deny recently moved from Atlanta United to Fc Metz in France. He is a central defender who is incredibly tall in stature. He is yet to be called up to the USYNT.
Linkon Ream - Real Salt Lake 6.3/10
An electric outside back who plays for Real Salt Lake’s academy. Ream is relatively under the radar, but Real Salt Lake rates him highly.
Manu Romero - Real Madrid 7.2/10
Romero plays both winger and outside back. He is a special player who is eligible for three different countries. Only time will tell if he decides to pick the USMNT.
Tyson Espy - LAFC 6.9/10
Espy is a central defender for LAFC and the USYNT. He is one of the best defenders in this class, and is incredibly calm on the ball.
Alex Gomez - NY Red Bulls 6.4/10
Gomez has turned himself from a central defender to more of a right back over the past few seasons. He is a USYNT regular whenever he is available.
Nathan Tchoumba - Colorado Rapids 6.9/10
Tchoumba is a defender and a central midfielder for the Colorado Rapids. Although he often plays the six, we think he is a center back in the future.
Ahmed Abarkane - FC Barcelona 7.3/10
Abarkane has previously played for Morocco's U15s. He is a left back with a lot of talent, and he is making his impact with this Barca squad. It will be cool to see if he gets a USYNT callup.
Sawyer Jura - Portland Timbers 5.5/10
Jura recently got back from a training stint with LA Liga 2 club in Spain. He became the first homegrown signing for the Timbers in many years last season.
Adrian Pelayo - Chivas 5.8/10
Pelayo made the move from NCFC in the USL. Pelayo is still with the Chivas youth teams, and he is yet to make his debut. Could be one to track.
Austin Mbaye - NY Red Bulls 5.9/10
A solid central defender who is still incredibly young as a 2009 born player. He is a top player for the 2009 USYNT squad.
Gavin Wolff - Austin FC 5.6/10
Wolff is a solid central defender for Austin FC. Wolff was a standout at Generation adidas Cup less than two years ago and has played with the USYNT.
Goalkeepers
Diego Kochen - Fc Barcelona 9.2/10
One of the highest rated prospects on his list plays for FC Barcelona B. Kochen is an elite ball playing goalkeeper. Kochen is a phenomenal shot stopper as well. He is the only player on this list to be called up to the USYNT.
Julian Eyestone - Brentford 6.5/10
Eyestone is the only player on this list to have gone through the college route. He played one season at Duke before making the jump to England. Eyestone is a solid goalkeeper who will be a part of the USYNT U20 pool.
Aidan Stokes - NY Red Bulls 6.1/10
A 2008 goalkeeper for the Red Bulls he has already made a few starts in MLS Next Pro this season, and the USYNT. Stokes is also already on a second team contract.
Marcelo Avalos - Philadelphia Union 7.1/10
Avalos recently made the move from San Jose to Philadelphia. He is a special goalkeeping talent born in 2009 who is eligible for Mexico or the USYNT.
Tobias Szewcyk - NY Red Bulls 6.8/10
Another 2009 born keeper who is incredibly talented. He is a regular with the USYNT and is eligible for Poland too. Another NYRB goalkeeper on this list as well.
Connor Dale - Inter Miami 5.9/10
Dale is still a very young player especially in the goalkeeper position. He has time to improve his rating, and we wouldn’t be surprised if he does that.
Jack Kortkamp - Sporting KC 5.8/10
Kortkamp recently signed his first professional contract with the club. He is an elite shot stopper who will be vying for a starting spot in MLS Next Pro.
Adam Beaudry - Colorado Rapids 5.5/10
A solid goal keeper who currently is second choice for the Colorado Rapids. He will need to do a lot to beat out Zack Stefan.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.