Not all stars come with trumpets. Others will appear with a smashed nose, cotton packed in the nostrils, and a fire which will not cease. The ascent of Diego Luna into the USMNT is just that story. And honestly? It is among the finest that have been created in years by American soccer.
The Broken Nose Heard Round The Camp
During the first training camp in January 2025, under Mauricio Pochettino, Luna takes a blow to the face in a friendly game with Costa Rica – nose busted, blood all over. Any other player leaves. Luna? He remained on, played through it, and assisted Brian White to the first goal, and eventually took himself to the hospital to receive treatment. The sheer balls of it left Pochettino so impressed that he gave it the nickname right before his eyes – “Big Balls.” The label stuck instantly. And within no time, a 21-year-old from Sunnyvale, California, had become irresistible.
Building The Foundation
Luna did not have a traditional way to do that. He graduated from the San Jose Earthquakes academy and was trained at the Barca Residency Academy in Arizona, and skipped college to become a pro at El Paso Locomotive when he was 17. Twice he scored 13 and assisted 7 times in 41 matches. In 2022, he was signed by Real Salt Lake and has not looked back since. As of 2024, Luna won MLS Young Player of the Year – and received his first USMNT call-up. He was also a part of the MLS All-Star team that season, and again in 2025. He was not satisfied with the level he had reached in 2024. There is just too much that I can do, I told Goal. I think that this was mediocre on my part. This is the minimum. I should do better.
The Gold Cup Makes Him Famous
He was the best of all. Luna appeared in four of the six U.S. games at the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup and scored three goals and two assists at the tournament, making him the Best XI of the tournament. It was in the semifinal against Guatemala that the entire nation went on alert. Luna has scored twice in the first 15 minutes, which propelled the USMNT to a 2-1 victory and a spot in the finals. He took away the Man of the Match. Pochettino had not only earned the trust but had now locked it on to the post.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
As of October 2025, Luna had featured in 13 of the 14 games held during a single year of 2025 in the U.S., more than virtually anyone in the pool. At the club level, he concluded 2025 as the top scorer in RSL with 10 goals and seven assists, his highest number of goals outside the prior number in fewer games. In 2025, he only recorded four goals and four assists in 17 USMNT matches. Those are numbers that amaze at any level, a 22-year-old playing much of his soccer in MLS.
The Decision That Made Him
Another dimension of the story of Luna is lost. Both his parents are from Michoacán, Mexico. Born in California, he represented the U.S. at the youth level, but there was a point – when he was not included in the 2024 Olympic team – where he was seriously considering switching allegiance to Mexico. He chose to wait. Pochettino came in and gave him his shot, and Luna paid that faith at once. I was born here in the States, he said simply. What he is doing with the opportunity and the decision tells all about Diego Luna.
What 2026 Means
In 2025, Luna played more matches in 17 USMNT matches – the most played by any player. He is no longer a fringe January camp prospect but a first name being sought by Pochettino. The next frontier is the 2026 World Cup on home soil. The ultimate USMNT was unveiled, and Pochettino did not even name Luna on the list; this caused a lot of heartbreak and controversy mere weeks prior to the match.
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