24-05-2025
'Proudest moment of my life': Sebastian Berhalter leads Vancouver Whitecaps to Champions Cup final
Sebastian Berhalter's ascension with Vancouver Whitecaps FC has put him squarely in the United States Men's National Team discussion, a season highlighted by guiding his team to the CONCACAF Champions Cup championship game and gaining a strong argument for a 2025 Gold Cup invitation.
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His showings in both Major League Soccer and the CONCACAF Champions Cup are making it difficult to forget him.
Sebastian Berhalter emerges as USMNT Gold Cup contender after stellar season with Vancouver Whitecaps
'It's probably the proudest moment of my life. This has been a dream since I've been literally one year old,' Sebastian Berhalter said on being called up to the US Men's National Team.
The 24-year-old central midfielder for Vancouver Whitecaps FC is having the best run of his professional life — and it has come at a critical time.
With three goals and two assists on the continental stage, he has not only led Vancouver Whitecaps FC to the final but also demonstrated maturity and adaptability deserving of international notice.
London-born but Ohio-raised, Sebastian Berhalter is the son of former USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter. His path has been anything but linear. From youth postings with Columbus Crew SC and Hammarby IF to collegiate soccer at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Berhalter gradually established a foundation that has become a flourishing pro career.
Following initial years with Columbus Crew SC and a development loan to Austin FC, Sebastian Berhalter signed with Vancouver Whitecaps FC, where he has thrived. Even after setbacks such as a fractured foot that prevented him from playing during a championship campaign, his return was one of steady improvement. Last season, he scored three goals, five assists and assisted in a third straight Canadian Championship.
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His season in 2024 has been his most prolific thus far. Besides his Champions Cup efforts, Berhalter has scored an additional goal and three assists in 13 games for the MLS. His highlight — a breathtaking spinning backheel volley against Pumas — was shortlisted for goal of the tournament. That flair, matched with defensive ruggedness and smart positioning, secured him Best XI status in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds.
Standing five-foot-nine, Berhalter plays with the urgency and expectation of a much larger presence. He has been called a box-to-box midfielder by analysts, with the ability to track back instantly and still have an effect on the attacking third.
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With Vancouver Whitecaps FC in pursuit of continental success and the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup waiting on the schedule, Sebastian Berhalter is on the threshold of breaking through to heights once beyond his grasp. If his path to improvement remains on track, not only might he make appearances with the U.S. senior team, but he might, before long, be exporting his skills to the European continent — achieving the childhood fantasy.
