For an entire four-year cycle, to write about Gio Reyna was to write about his potential – especially the nagging feeling that it was going unfulfilled. Once hyped as possibly the greatest prospect in US men’s history, a series of injuries kept him from simply taking the field, much less making his mark on it.
Since his emergent 2020-21 season, when he logged nearly 2,000 Bundesliga minutes running alongside Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, and Jadon Sancho, Reyna finished each of the ensuing five seasons without even cresting 630 league minutes. “Rotational” became a generous descriptor for his role at Nottingham Forest on loan, and then last season with Borussia Mönchengladbach. Still, Gregg Berhalter and Mauricio Pochettino kept involving Reyna with the US squad based on that pesky potential – betting that, on his day, he still had the raw talent to do what few compatriots could.
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This year, those days are finally coming with regularity. Since faring well in a contributor’s role at the World Cup, Reyna has moved to France with Strasbourg, and he’s remained first-choice in a youthful squad whose average age of 21.6 more closely resembles a postgrad program than a Ligue 1 roster. Coupled with his newfound status as a two-time World Cup selection, Reyna appears more comfortable as a budding leader than the would-be wunderkind with an unfortunately lengthy injury ledger. Life’s simpler that way.
“Keep showing up every day, training, recovering,” Reyna said of his current focus when speaking with reporters during the most recent US window. “[I’m] doing everything I need to prepare mentally and physically for every training and game. I feel good, though, and I’m feeling more confident every time I step on the pitch.”
The only player to start in all four friendlies during the September/October international window, Reyna was understandably rotated out of Strasbourg’s first lineup upon his return to France before being restored for Saturday’s visit from Paris Saint-Germain. It ended as most Ligue 1 matches involving PSG do, with the two-time defending European champions doing just enough to claim all three points.
But before PSG’s three goals, there was an opening strike from Reyna. Beginning with his attacking-half regain from a bad pass by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Reyna collected the ball and worked a one-two before dribbling into the box. With Lucas Digne in tow, Reyna drifted toward the center before slotting a well-placed shot between a befuddled Filip Jörgensen and his near post.
A run to the supporters. A knee slide. A casual salute. At last, Reyna is more relevant for his exploits as a player rather than as a concept – but the reason why goes far beyond that goal. For the first time in his career, Reyna has managed to start eight consecutive games for club and country, with the streak only ending as he was rotated following the window. A month shy of turning 24, his body is finally letting him lean into the promise he’s shown since he first turned heads as part of the New York City FC academy.
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It doesn’t hurt that he harbors less pressure to carry the team than he previously has. Much like Christian Pulisic, the bombastic arrival of Cavan Sullivan and a host of other young players have eased the pressure of the spotlight, and Reyna can once again act as a veteran voice. To start the window, Justin Ellis said he especially looked up to Reyna during his own academy days in Orlando. Shortly afterward, Ellis opened his US scoring account off of a looping free-kick from Reyna.
At last, the US is developing enough players who appear to boast potential to play in Europe’s big five that no individual is seen as the make-or-break piece.
Still in the first half of his 20s, there’s plenty of time left for Reyna to put forth a fine career, away from the dueling shadows of his father, Claudio, and the initial idea of what he could be during his Dortmund heyday. At long last in a comfortable position at Strasbourg, he’s beginning to write his own story.