Diego Luna: From Gold Cup Star to Pochettino’s Pick
- Diego Luna's introduction to the U.S.men's national team was memorable, to say the least.
- Pochettino recounted the incident, noting Luna's immediate assist after returning to the field.
- Luna's competitive edge has been a welcome addition to the USMNT, quickly endearing him to Pochettino.
Diego Luna: From Broken Nose to USMNT Rising Star
Updated July 03, 2025
Diego Luna’s introduction to the U.S.men’s national team was memorable, to say the least. During a friendly against Costa Rica, Luna suffered a broken nose. Despite the injury, the young player insisted on continuing, impressing coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Pochettino recounted the incident, noting Luna’s immediate assist after returning to the field. He said he was surprised by Luna’s toughness. “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 competitive edge has been a welcome addition to the USMNT, quickly endearing him to Pochettino. His on-field performance, including three goals and four assists in 11 national team appearances, has solidified his status as a rising star. Notably, he scored both goals in the USMNT’s 2-1 victory over Guatemala in the Concacaf Gold Cup semifinals, significantly improving his chances of securing a spot on the World Cup roster.
Luna’s journey to the USMNT differs from many of his teammates. While many developed through European or top-tier U.S. academies,Luna’s path included stints with the San Jose Earthquakes setup,a Barcelona residency in Arizona,and a professional contract with the USL Championship’s El Paso Locomotive before joining Real Salt Lake in MLS.
What’s next
As the World Cup approaches, Diego luna aims to solidify his place on the USMNT roster, leveraging his recent successes and unique path to inspire his continued growth as a key player for the team.