Reyna’s season at Gladbach has not been smooth. He has had limited starts, more cameos than commanding nights, and the broader story of his club career has been one of interrupted rhythm rather than sustained momentum.
That is why this goal mattered.
For a player still trying to rebuild certainty in his game, moments like that can shift the mood quickly.
Reyna called a call-up “an honour,” and that choice of words felt revealing. There is hunger there, but also realism. He knows this is not a season that settles every doubt.
Still, Pochettino may value what Reyna can offer when fit and confident: clean touches in tight spaces, imagination around the box, and the ability to change the tempo of an attack. Reports suggest he has featured more regularly for the national team under the current coach, even if his club minutes have remained uneven.
That matters because USMNT squad building is not only about who is hottest right now. It is also about who can solve problems in tournament football.
The next World Cup has an obvious pull for Reyna after a frustrating 2022 tournament in which he played only a limited role. Since then, the task has looked simple, if not easy: stay available, stay relevant, and give coaches a reason to trust him again.
His goal for Gladbach does not complete that job, but it does sharpen his case. The next step is the big one: whether Pochettino’s squad on 26 May turns a promising week into genuine momentum.