It's Called Soccer USMNT Team of 2023
One player from one league who stood out in their respective years
Welcome to It’s Called Soccer USMNT team of 2023 in which we assemble 11 standout players. Any US-eligible player is eligible for this team. But we’re trying to measure more than just pure numbers or popularity, so I’m not picking just the best players but the players who have excelled in their own context and deserve some recognition. But here’s the catch, and I’ve taken inspiration from TIFO’s team of the 2023 season, once I choose a player from a certain league, I can’t pick anyone else from that league again.
Goalkeeper - Roman Celentano (MLS)
First up is young goalkeeping standout Roman Celentano of FC Cincinnati. Likely a goalkeeper who isn’t on many radars, but if you’ve watched enough of him you know his quality. In Major League Soccer there is no shortage of young American goalkeepers plying their trade in the league. Chris Brady took Gaga Slonina’s spot after moving to Chelsea, MLS Cup winner Patrick Shulte had a breakout season and kept 9 clean sheets, and the player not named Lionel Messi that would have saved Inter Miami’s season was a young American goalkeeper - Drake Callender. But above all of them this season was the 23 year old Celentano. Capturing the 2nd best league record with 14 clean sheets and marshalling a backline that gave up barely 1 goal a game. His team won the supporters shield - the best team of the regular season thanks to his shot stopping ability and aerial bravery. We need to build an equally good back line in front of him.
Right Back - Joe Scally (Bundesliga)
At RB we move across the pond to the Bundesliga, where Joe Scally at just 21 years old claimed his role as an important player for Borussia Monchengladbach playing over 1100 minutes in the first half of the Bundesliga season, and more importantly claiming the RB spot as his own, making 13 starts in 16 appearances adding 1 goal and 1 assist. Since Joe Scally has been a name in USMNT spheres for a long time, I don’t think he gets enough recognition for the workhorse performances he puts in week in and week out in arguably the 2nd or 3rd best league in the world - barely old enough to drink alcohol in the US.
Right Center Back - Chris Richards (Premier League)
At CB I’m making a big call. Chris Richards has thundered up the charts in the last three months of the year for Crystal Palace to reinvent himself as a defensive midfielder. Honorable mention for Premier League is either of the Fulham duo of Antonee Robinson or Tim Ream, but I decided to go with Richards because of his ability to impress and win a new position for one of England’s most recognizable squads. Richards has now started and played the full 90 in the last 7 Crystal Palace matches in his new position. He ranks highly in duels, aerial duels, and highly in players I’ve gone to Nando’s with at 1 of 1. Good dude, better player, Chris Richards takes the right CB spot.
Left Center Back - Mark McKenzie (Belgium First Division A)
At left CB is ex-Philly Union academy product Mark McKenzie plying his trade for Genk in Belgium. McKenzie seems to be stuck on the periphery of Gregg Berhalter’s US rosters, but that hasn’t stopped McKenzie from essentially becoming a club legend, playing in over 100 matches and captaining a side that is now chasing European dreams. 11 starts so far in the 23/24 season, McKenzie at 24 years old has over 150 professional appearances and is set to make more big moves in the new year. He stands tall next to Chris Richards in our back line. And on his left side is our next player, Sergino Dest.
Left Back - Sergino Dest (Dutch Eredivisie)
Think back to 2021-2022, we all had such high hopes for Sergino, knowing he possessed so much quality based on his performances for the USMNT but being constantly disappointed at his ability to get playing time at Barcelona or AC Milan. After moving back to his native Netherlands and being the first piece in the PSV American trio, Dest has reinvented himself as a marauding attacking fullback on the left side of the pitch. In the first 16 matches of the dutch season, PSV are the only club in a top European league with a perfect record. Dest’s high ranks in tackles won, passes intercepted, and successful dribbles have helped the Eindhoven club to not just a perfect record, but the knockout rounds of the Champions League.
Center Mid - Tanner Tessman (Serie B)
That is our four in the back, and in front of Sergino Dest will stand Tanner Tessman of Venezia. Tessman was somewhat of an unknown commodity in his first years in Venice where the club fell from the first division into Serie B. While Gianluca Busio was supposed to be the locked on prodigy, Tessman has somewhat stole the limelight. The 22 year old Tessman has quickly established himself as one of the best centermids in the division. His offensive production of 4 goals and 3 assists, along with his high average match rating and top marks in per 90 goals, shot attempts, and chances created give this athletic freak a well rounded case to be ready for his next step when a bigger club comes knocking. Out of all of the players on this team, Tessman is probably the one that has had the best year of any American player.
Center Mid - Johnny (Brazil Serie A)
If Tessman is the firepower from midfield, we need a defensive piece - so Johnny is our next player. The 22 year old Johnny Cardoso is about to make a big jump from the Brazil first division with Internacional to Real Betis in La Liga. In 22 games this season, Johnny has consistently been one of the best players on the pitch, adding 2 goals and 2 assists from a deep playmaking role. His calm composure and bigger frame should give him a nice foundation to find success in Spain. But his transfer won’t officially go through until 12:01am January 1, which is why to round out our 3 man midfield is Celta de Vigo midfielder Luca de la Torre.
Center Mid - Luca de la Torre (La Liga)
I think anyone that watched this short Tasmanian devil of a soccer player when he was at Heracles in the Netherlands could see this could be a big time player. His move to Celta wasn’t really a surprise to most US fans in the know, but it probably looked suspect to many at the time. If anyone was in that camp, they’ll probably be eating their words at this point. While Celta isn’t the highest caliber club in La Liga, de la Torre was a critical piece in them being safely outside of relegation in the 22/23 season. While they find themselves again in a relegation scrap, Luca has played over 1100 minutes with 2 assists and for a poor offensive team, ranks in the top 10 la liga players for touches in the opponent’s box and carries into the final third.
Right Wing - Rokas Pukstas (Croatia 1. Division)
Ahead of Luca on the right side of the pitch is someone that is a hype machine for anyone that has been paying attention. 19 year old Rokas Pukstas is taking a bit of a different path from many in the US pipeline making 40 appearances and scoring 7 goals for Hajduk Split in Croatia. So far this season, his club is at the top of the table with Pukstas winning two man of the match performances while ranking near the top of the league in goals, shots on target, touches in the opposition box, duels won, and possession won in the final 3rd. Plus he’s just a different player than many in the US roster, especially on along the front line. We’ve switched in recent years to quick, agile-focused wingers who can get in behind or run at defenders. Pukstas is a physical presence who offers a scary 2nd runner into the box who can win headers from any height. He’s a bit of an American Frank Lampard. And next to him at the Striker position is our next player.
Striker - Folarin Balogun (Ligue 1)
Folarin Balogun. Who would have believed when this year started an Arsenal forward who scored 20+ goals on loan to a mid Ligue 1 team would commit to the USMNT, then have a breakout introduction to help the national team lift a trophy, and then be sold to Monaco for $45million. That guy plays for the USMNT, and if I didn’t already pick Sergino Dest - Ricardo Pepi would have a shot at this position. It’s an exciting time to be a fan. Balogun has 7 goal contributions in the early Ligue 1 season, and has already scored 3 goals for the USMNT in important games. He may be the missing link when the US take on the best of South America in next summer’s Copa America, but until then, let’s celebrate a calendar year that saw him score 18 goals but more importantly, commit to the USMNT.
Left Wing - Christian Pulisic (Serie A)
Last up at LW is the man who will be providing Balogun and Pukstas with their service - we have to celebrate not just a resurgence, but a revival from the dead of Christian Pulisic. His talent has never ever been in doubt, but tensions between him, Chelsea, and US fans had hit a peak in the summer after a breakout World Cup saw him sit on the bench for the London blues. After a discount transfer to Italian giants AC Milan Pulisic has come alive again - providing 10 goal contributions 6 goals 4 assists halfway through the Italian season. He is outshining who the world thought would be the next $100m transfer Rafael Leao, and proving all the doubters wrong. The best thing however that has happened this year, is that Pulisic is happy and healthy, something he hasn’t seemed to be since moving from Dortmund to London.
So that’s our team of the season. One player from each of their respective leagues, who have broken out in their own way and deserve recognition. Let me know what your 2023 USMNT team of the season would be down below in the comments, thanks so much for watching, and I’ll see you next time on It’s Called Soccer.