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How Roldan went from USMNT afterthought to Pochettino favorite

Days after halting Lionel Messi and keeping Inter Miami scoreless in a stunning 3-0 victory in the Leagues Cup final in early September, Seattle Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan received a surprising phone call while on vacation.

"I answered in front of my wife, someone that has encouraged me and has given me a whole lot of confidence," Roldan told ESPN. "I had to get on a flight about five hours later."

Roldan was returning to the U.S. men's national team for the first time in two years.