In the 59th minute of the USMNT’s 1-1 draw against New Zealand at RFK Stadium on Tuesday, 20-year-old Lynden Gooch stepped on the field for the first time for the senior national team.
As soon as that happened, the Santa Cruz, California native didn’t stop running. That’s been the blueprint for his success so far with Sunderland in the Premier League and he showcased it in his first USMNT experience. A work rate second to none and a drive to help the team any way he can, Gooch is the ultimate role player.
He’ll likely never be a star player at the club or international level, but with his intense work ethic on the field, he’ll likely always have a spot.