On Jan. 8, Jonathan Gonzalez, one of the United States' most promising young talents, was asked a question that held the potential to change the course of his life. As it is 2018, though, he needed to decipher the six emojis his club, C.F. Monterrey, sent him on Twitter—the Mexican flag, a soccer ball, a heart, a taco, a cactus and a thinking face—before answering.
"If [the Mexican national team] would consider me, I am decided to defend the colors of this country," Gonzalez responded. "It would be an honor." He ended the tweet with a Mexican flag emoji.