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Lalas Challenges Diego Luna After 'Disappearing' In USMNT's Gold Cup Collapse
Lalas Challenges Diego Luna After 'Disappearing' In USMNT's Gold Cup Collapse originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The USMNT lost 2-1 to Mexico in the Gold Cup final. After Chris Richards opened the scoring, Mexico took control of the match, and Diego Luna couldn't replicate his earlier performances to deliver when the team needed him most.
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Luna had become a key player for the USMNT during the knockout rounds. In the quarterfinal against Costa Rica, he scored his first international goal. Then, in the semifinal against Guatemala, he found the net twice in a span of just 10 minutes. But when it came time for the final, he couldn't make the same impact.
Diego played 85 minutes before being subbed off — and left the field without leaving his mark on the game. That led Alexis Lalas to publicly call him out.
'I think he is a star in the making. But in order to be a star, you have to bring it when everybody is expecting you to bring it — and he didn't bring it today. He disappeared today.' - Lalas said post-game.
Lalas admitted it wasn't entirely Luna's fault, as the entire team underperformed, but emphasized that the kind of player Luna is expected to become needs to show up in games like the Gold Cup final.
'If he is the player that we're making him out to be — and I do think he can be — he better learn from this. That's not what stars do. So if you want to be a star, and you want all that attention, then you've got to bring it on the big days. And he didn't bring it today.'
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Diego Luna's Future with the USMNT
Luna wore the number 10 shirt in the absence of Christian Pulisic, who opted out of the tournament to rest after a long European season — a decision that didn't sit well with former USMNT legends and head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
The Gold Cup marked the beginning of Pochettino's tenure. The next tournament on the calendar is the CONCACAF Nations League, though opponents haven't been confirmed. After that, the focus shifts to the 2026 World Cup.
As one of the host nations, the USMNT is already qualified — although it's still uncertain whether the team will play the opening match at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico.
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For now, Luna is expected to remain involved with the national team. His three goals and two assists showed promise, but his place in the starting XI is far from guaranteed. With Pulisic, Weah, and McKennie returning for the next call-ups, competition will be fierce.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
