Current U.S. Men’s National Team Power Rankings

An unexpected exclusion is creating a stir as Christian Pulisic is notably absent from Alexi Lalas’ latest ranking of the top five U.S. Men’s National Team players. The reason behind this decision lies with Pulisic’s recent struggles with injuries following a strong start to his season with AC Milan.

As Pulisic gears up for the upcoming World Cup, the analyst clearly states that to be included in the ranking, a player must currently be contributing on the field.

Who Made the Cut?

In the midst of discussions around Pulisic’s ranking, here’s who currently tops the list:

1. Weston McKennie (Midfielder, Juventus) - McKennie’s fantastic season is underscored by a tally of seven goals and four assists, marking him as a vital piece for the upcoming World Cup squad.

   “It should come as no surprise given everything that has been mentioned about Weston McKinnie and his consistent value.”

   2. Tanner Tessmann (Midfielder, Lyon) - Tessmann continues to shine in Ligue 1, racking up nearly 2,000 minutes of playtime across competitions.

   3. Brenden Aaronson (Forward, Leeds United) - Aaronson’s impressive four-goal season showcases his importance as Leeds seeks to climb out of the relegation zone.

   4. Malik Tillman (Winger, Leverkusen) - After a slow few months, Tillman is hitting his stride again ahead of the World Cup.

   5. Alex Freeman (Defender, Villarreal) - The young talent is starting to make his presence known in LaLiga, and has already added 11 international caps.

As for Pulisic, the path back into Lalas’ power rankings hinges on his ability to recover and make an impact as he did earlier in the season.