The USMNT and Diego Luna came roaring out of the gate on Wednesday night in the Gold Cup semifinal against Guatemala. The Los Chapines found themselves down 2-0 before they could blink thanks to his spectacular play.
Luna would net the first of his two goals just four minutes into the match. Alex Freeman rolled a pass to the top of the box that Malik Tillman couldn’t settle. The ball wound up at the feet of Luca de la Torre, who fired a shot that rebounded off goalkeeper Kénderson Alessandro Navarro Hernández, where Luna was waiting to slam it into the back of the net.
In the 15th minute, Luna would strike again. This time, Tillman squared the ball to Luna in open space. He ran at former USMNT player Aaron Herrera, beating Herrera inside with a nice cut and blasting the ball short side of the keeper. The US would hold on down the stretch, winning 2-1 to advance to the final against rivals Mexico.
Luna’s Performance Has Sparked This Deep Cup Run
A lot was made about many of the regular first-team starters skipping this Gold Cup before the tournament started. Stars like Timothy Weah and Weston McKennie were playing in the Club World Cup, while others like Christian Pulisic chose to sit out to recover from a long season with their clubs. Their absence has allowed players like Luna to shine.
Luna scored his first goal of the cup against Costa Rica in the quarterfinals, the first of his senior international career, with a deflected goal to tie the game late in the first half. He could have scored in the opener against Trinada and Tobago, but that deflected shot hit Patrick Agyemang before finding the net. Agyemang would get the credit, even though he knew very little about the ball caroming off him.
Tillman and Luna lead the USMNT with 5 goal contributions (3 goals, 2 assists) each. Their tireless effort on both offense and defense has carried this team to the finals. With others like Tyler Adams, Sebastian Berhalter, and Chris Richards providing defense and distribution, this team of “nobodies” has a shot to pull off the unthinkable: beating Mexico.
Diego Luna Plays For The Love Of The Game
Luna, a Mexican dual national, knew early in his career that he wanted to play for the United States. While he respects his Mexican heritage, he’s proud to be an American and represent the red, white, and blue. “I was born and raised in the United States,” he said in 2022 when discussing the US-Mexico rivalry, “so it’s only right to play for the country that they raised me to who I am.”
Three years ago, Luna was playing for El Paso Locomotive in the USL. He immediately drew attention from MLS and the national team by netting 13 goals in 42 appearances for his club. Mikey Varas quickly added him to his U20 squad, where he provided five goals in just 21 appearances.
The next year, Real Salt Lake brought Luna to the MLS, where he scored eight goals and provided eight assists in his first season. That performance earned him an All-Star spot and the MLS Young Player of the Year award.
It wasn’t until the January camp of 2025 that Mauricio Pochettino would give Luna a shot with the senior USMNT, and he did not disappoint. In a friendly against Costa Rica, an elbow caught Luna square in the face, breaking his nose and sending blood streaming down his face. The iconic image of Luna, with gauze protruding from his nose, remained in the game to provide an assist to Brian White, earning him his spot at the Gold Cup.
End Of My Diego Luna Rant
In the short time US fans have had the opportunity to see Luna play, he has won their hearts. His never-say-die attitude mixed with his cheerful smile shows just how much fun he’s having on the pitch. The blonde hair, the tattoos, and the energetic celebrations are a trademark of this rising USMNT star. While fans have questioned some of the players’ desire to play for the crest, Luna leaves no doubt as to how much he cares.
We don’t yet know the outcome of this Gold Cup, but it’s safe to say that we do know Luna has earned his place on the 2026 World Cup roster. Even if he’s not starting, having that type of skill and energy coming off the bench against your opponents’ tired legs is something every coach dreams of having.
That same tenacity, determination, and heart are what we’ve seen from him at this tournament. Infectious energy and a relentless drive to chase the ball for 90 minutes, no matter the score. That energy is what will be needed if the USMNT is going to have a shot at beating Mexico in front of 70,000-plus screaming fans at NRG Stadium on Sunday.
