Alexi Lalas: 5 U.S. Men's Team Players Who Have Most to Prove in Europe

Another European club season is right around the corner, and it is the last one leading up to the 2026 World Cup. So which U.S. men's national team players have the most to prove in Europe? 

Here are five players to keep an eye on. And just like a power ranking, if you don't like it or if you disagree with it, that's fine. Get your own rankings!

5. Sergiño Dest | Defender | PSV Eindhoven

Dest is back on the field from his ACL injury and, so far, signs are good. I think beyond him proving that he can stay healthy this upcoming season, there are some interesting tactical questions when it comes to whether he is good enough to play defensively under USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino. But you take the good with the bad, and there's so much more good in terms of Dest going forward.

Whether it's Pochettino or anybody else, I think most of his coaches have come to the realization that you can't hold him back. When Dest wants to defend, I think he can do it. It's just a question of whether he wants to defend. 

I think it's hard to keep him off of the pitch. Whether it's four or three in the back, I think he's going to be somewhere on that right side and I think he is going to be potent. If Dest is healthy and ready to go next summer in the World Cup, that right side looks very, very different. And I'm a lot more bullish about this team in general. 

4. Tim Weah | Winger | Marseille 

I've also been bullish about Weah needing to start in that right wing spot and the ability to stretch the field. But you need to factor in the emergence of Diego Luna and Malik Tillman, and Christian Pulisic's ability to play on the right. So Weah is going to have a fight on his hands to hold on to a starting spot for 2026. 

But Weah has played