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The popularity of football has been on the rise in North America in recent times. Since tiny Costa Rica captured the imagination of the world by reaching the quarter-finals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, a number of players from the continent have shot into the limelight.
Of late, there has been an influx of talented players from the US, which is a nation where sports like basketball and American football have traditionally been more popular. On that note, let's have a look at the most valuable North American XI.
A 4-2-3-1 formation has been considered for the hypothetical team. Without further ado, let's get started.
# Goalkeeper - Keylor Navas (Costa Rica) - €10 million
Keylor Navas shot into prominence on the world stage after his heroic performances at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where Costa Rica fell to the Netherlands in a penalty shootout in the quarter-finals.
After Real Madrid snapped him up, the Costa Rican international was an integral part of Los Blancos' three Champions League-winning teams. The arrival of Thibaut Courtois meant that Navas slipped down the pecking order at the club.
However, the 34-year-old has enjoyed a second wind since arriving at PSG in the summer of 2019. Navas helped the French giants to a domestic treble last season, and narrowly missed out on a continental quadruple as PSG lost to Bayern Munich in the Champions League final.
Navas has kept an impressive 32 clean sheets in 61 games in all competitions for the Ligue 1 club.
PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino recently heaped praise on Navas, saying:
"We know about him from his time in Spain. It is clear that he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world, it is a true honour to work with him. He is a great professional, with great sporting qualities and, after 11 days working together, we are getting to know each other and enjoying seeing what a great goalkeeper he is."
# Centre-back - John Anthony Brooks (USA) - €12 million
The Berlin-born John Anthony Brooks reportedly turned down Bayern Munich to play for his boyhood club Hertha Berlin in 2012, and he won the 2.Bundesliga title with the capital club that season.
Now at another German top-flight club Wolfsburg, whom he joined in 2017, the American centre-back has made over 170 Bundesliga appearances across eight seasons.
Brooks is perhaps more renowned for being the first US substitute to score in the FIFA World Cup in 84 years when he netted against Ghana in the 2014 edition of the competition.
Wolfsburg sporting director Marcel Schafer recently said about the centre-back:
"It must be unpleasant for strikers to play against John Anthony Brooks."
# Centre-back - Nestor Araujo (Mexico) - €7 million
Nestor Araujo is a relatively recent arrival in European football. The 29-year-old centre-back joined La Liga club Celta Vigo in the summer of 2018 from Mexican club Santos Laguna.
Nevertheless, the Mexico international has impressed at his new surroundings, and has become a first-team regular.
Araujo has played 91 games in all competitions for Celta Vigo, and has scored four goals and provided three assists.
# Left-back - Alphonso Davies (Canada) - €75 million
Alphonso Davies's rapid rise to the top echelons of football is certainly one of the sport's best rags-to-riches stories in recent times. He is regarded as one of the best young full-backs in the game, and the sky is the limit for him.
The 20-year-old made his Bundesliga debut last season. He played a key role in Bayern Munich's continental treble-winning campaign, scoring thrice and providing ten assists in all competitions.
Such was his impact that Davies managed to dislodge regular left-back David Alaba, who moved to centre-back to accommodate the Canadian player in the playing XI.
Understandably, Bayern Munich head coach Hansi Flick is elated with the player, recently saying in this regard:
"He raced forwards a lot and the thing which impresses me the most about him is how he throws his weight about in challenges. He totally defended his side of the field and I'm really happy with him. I think he could maybe give us a bit more going forward, but that's all part of his development, and he's still relatively young so if he keeps going the way he is, then I'm sure he'll add that to his game."
This season, Davies has featured in six different competitions for Bayern Munich but has scored only once.
The Canadian has indeed come a long way since fleeing a Ghanian refugee camp years ago in search of a better future.
# Right-back - Sergino Dest (USA) - €25 million
Sergino Dest is arguably one of the best right-backs to play for Barcelona since a certain Dani Alves.
Since arriving at the Camp Nou last summer, the 20-year-old American has already become a first-team regular under Ronald Koeman and has played 26 games in all competitions.
Dest had a particularly outstanding outing against Real Madrid in the El Clasico late last year, despite Barcelona falling to their arch-rivals on home turf.
A quintessential modern-day full-back, the USA international can play on both flanks and has no qualms joining the attack and tracking back when possession is lost. His pace and dribbling abilities are his primary attributes.
Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman was, however, critical of the player in the aftermath of the Champions League Round of 16 first-leg loss at home to PSG, saying:
"He is (20) years old but he needs to learn, but he needs to be more aggressive and needs to be more concentrated. He had too many periods in the game where he was not 100% focussed."
# Central Midfielder - Weston McKennie (USA) - €25 million
Weston McKennie has been one of the few shining stars in Juventus' indifferent Serie A title defence this season.
The 22-year-old American midfielder, who arrived on a loan deal last summer, has scored five times and provided two assists in all competitions for the Bianconeri.
Juventus head coach Andrea Pirlo has been impressed with what he has seen of McKennie so far, saying in this regard:
“McKennie is young and has so much room for improvement. We were the quickest one to sign him, and we are happy he is part of the squad. He is a humble guy who always wants to improve, especially on a technical level. He needs to improve when he receives the ball, but he knows this is only a starting point.”
# Defensive Midfielder - Tyler Adams (USA) - €20 million
Tyler Adams is one of an increasing group of young Americans making their presence felt in the top European leagues.
Since arriving at Bundesliga club Leipzig from the MLS in the summer of 2018, Adams has made 43 appearances in all competitions, scoring twice and assisting once.
Leipzig head coach Julian Nagelsmann is excited about Adams' versatility, saying in this regard:
“We wanted to open up some new spaces in our build-up play. Tyler played like a quarterback. It gives us new opportunities for the future.”
Adams, on his part, talked about his club's Bundesliga aspirations this season after a 3-0 win over Hertha Berlin, saying:
"For me when you come to a club like this, and we have such a young team, we want to win trophies. We have big ambitions as a club, and obviously winning a Bundesliga title is one of those goals. So we're close right now, but there are still so many games to play, so we have to stay focused."
# Attacking Midfielder - Giovanni Reyna (USA) - €38 million
One of the most exciting young midfielders in the game at the moment, Giovanni Reyna has had quite an impact since arriving at Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2019.
The 18-year-old American has been on fire this season. He has scored thrice and assisted on five occasions in the league, despite Dortmund enduring an underwhelming Bundesliga campaign.
Reyna recently commented about the arrival of new Dortmund manager Edin Terzig, saying:
"It feels like we've just gained new energy, new self-confidence, and there are new ideas that the team has started to internalise. We can see that it is getting better every day."
# Right Winger - Christian Pulisic (USA) - €60 million
Christian Pulisic is still only 22 but has been on the European football scene for quite a while now.
After making his mark as a precocious teenager at Borussia Dortmund in 2015-16, scoring 17 goals and providing 20 assists, Pulisic moved to Chelsea in the summer of 2019.
The USA international has had a decent stint so far at the English club, scoring 13 goals and providing ten assists in all competitions.
Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel has tipped Pulisic to enjoy a longer stint at the club, saying in this regard:
“He proved in many weeks that he has the level to be a regular Chelsea player, to have a big impact in this club. It’s a challenge now to hold this level, to improve and to maintain the level and to keep improving.”
# Left Winger - Diego Lainez (Mexico) - €7.5 million
Diego Lainez, touted as Mexico's next big star, arrived at Spanish club Real Betis in the summer of 2018 and has already made close to 50 appearances in all competitions.
The 20-year-old winger has scored just once for his new club but is tipped for bigger and better things.
Lainez idolises a certain Lionel Messi, saying in this regard:
"I really identify with him. I really like his style of play, and I try to learn from him and do some of the things he does. I look to take players on a lot, play a lot of one-twos, but I also like to shoot from distance. I can play behind the No. 9 or as a midfielder. Whatever is needed, I do it, and I can use both feet very well."
# Centre Forward - Raul Jimenez (Mexico) - €40 million
Raul Jimenez has been like a breath of fresh air at Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The 29-year-old Mexico international has scored an impressive 67 goals and provided 18 assists in only three seasons at the club.
Wolves head coach Nuno Espirito Santo recently provided an update on the return of Jimenez, who is out with a fractured skull:
“He’s doing good. We had consultation and the results are amazing, so gradually he will progress, but it’s too soon to predict an exact moment. He’s working by himself, but with a good intensity in his training sessions, so we are really positive and delighted that everything’s going to be OK.”
