Accidents could deliver adverse ideas and reactions to skilled athletes, however for Actual Salt Lake and U.S. males’s nationwide workforce midfielder Diego Luna, his 2025 damaged nostril served as motivation.
Luna suffered a damaged nostril in his first USMNT look of 2025 throughout a 3-0 pleasant victory over Costa Rica. The gritty and feisty attacker suffered the harm after helping on Brian White’s opening aim of the match, offering an instance of Luna’s fearlessness as a younger, artistic participant.
Not solely did Luna consider his harm was a testomony to his toughness as a participant, but it surely additionally helped him earn extra alternatives with the USMNT in March and June.
“I feel that that have for me was, I may say life-changing because it gave me…I feel it added a chance for me to return again into extra camps and present the kind of the grit and the starvation that I’ve to play and signify for my nation,” Luna instructed media throughout a press convention on Tuesday.
“And I feel, yeah, it showcases Mauricio [Pochettino] actually preferred that about me and actually preferred the combat that I had. I feel that it confirmed different gamers that that’s what’s wanted on this workforce and to combat by way of all the pieces.”
Luna entered 2025 off of a career-best 12 months for RSL, scoring eight targets and including 12 assists in MLS play. The 21-year-old has since constructed off of his USMNT experiences, tallying eight targets and 4 assists in 16 league outings to date through the present marketing campaign.
He assisted as soon as through the USMNT’s dismal CONCACAF Nations League window in March and now has a brand new alternative to be a part of Pochettino’s Gold Cup roster later this month. Odds are in Luna’s favor to stay on Pochettino’s roster following upcoming friendlies towards Turkey and Switzerland, pending he stays wholesome, which may present a wanted increase to a USMNT assault needing a spark.
“I feel the arrogance permits me to remain comfy and permits me to precise myself on the sector,” Luna stated. “And I feel that’s one of many largest issues is when there’s no added strain while you come into camp from the teaching workers, or from what do they assume, or what do they count on from you.
“It’s very clear what they need and what their expectations are and to permit me to totally get pleasure from myself once I’m out on the sector.”
The 2024 MLS Younger Participant of the Yr and All-Star has earned 4 USMNT caps up to now and ought to add to that complete by week’s finish.