USMNT's Johnny Cardoso fell short in the Champions League, but may have locked up a World Cup spot
It’s quite uncommon for an American to start in a Champions League semifinal or play in both legs. It’s also unusual for such a player to advance to the final and even more rare to play in Europe’s crown jewel. Atlético Madrid’s Johnny Cardoso, whose club career has outshined his U.
S. national team tenure, fell just short of the title game Tuesday. With his Spanish side trailing, the 24-year-old central midfielder was a 57th-minute substitute in the 1-0 loss at Arsenal.
The result provided the Gunners with a 2-1 aggregate advantage and a place in the May 30 final against Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest. Cardoso had started the 1-1 first leg last week in Madrid but lost his place in the lineup Tuesday. Johnny Cardoso fights for the ball during Atlético Madrid's Champions League semifinal loss to Arsenal on Tuesday in London.
Jacques Feeney/Offside via Getty Images The loss also denied a championship appearance for Obed Vargas, a native of Alaska and former Seattle Sounders homegrown who represents Mexico internationally. (The 20-year-old midfielder was in uniform for the semifinals but did not play in either leg. ) They were seeking to become the first Americans to reach the final since Christian Pulisic won the 2021 trophy with Chelsea.
The only U. S. national team players to start in a Champions League semifinal are Cardoso, Pulisic and DaMarcus Beasley (2005, PSV Eindhoven).