Is Sullivan the next Olise? Comparisons for USMNT's top young stars

If one word defines the first call-up for the U.S. men's national team since the summer's FIFA World Cup, it's this: youth.

To give the next generation some opportunities, coach Mauricio Pochettino has given several key figures a break and instead selected a noticeably younger group for upcoming friendlies in late September and early October.

Of the 28 chosen, 13 have yet to make their senior national team debut. From those 13, eight are teenagers who are continuing to fine-tune and develop their talents.

Though some of these players are literally still kids, they also represent an exciting generation of up-and-comers who have the potential to become elite game changers for the U.S. by the time the 2030 World Cup rolls around, if not sooner.

Shining a light on a few of these fresh faces, we've selected five names to follow in the upcoming international break. We've also enlisted the help of ESPN's in-house guru Bill Connelly, who has provided key stats (over the last 365 days in all competitions) on each name, as well as both overly optimistic and realistic comparisons to players that they could one day become.

Zavier Gozo | Midfielder | 19 | Crystal Palace

Within just three years, Gozo went from earning his MLS debut in 2023 with Real Salt Lake to then gaining a high-profile move to the Premier League this summer with Crystal Palace.

Typically playing on the right flank, the 19-year-old midfielder has an immense amount of energy with 8.1 progressive carries per 90 minutes. In fact, even though Gozo hasn't played in MLS since July -- before his move to the Premier League -- he still ranks second overall in MLS for total progressive carries, carries following a defensive action, and take-ons, among teenagers in MLS.

"He is insanely robust. If I were to tell you the running numbers he's putting up, they're, for his age, I think world-class," said Nate Miller, a former assistant at Real Salt Lake, to ESPN.

With six goals and five assists across 1,614 minutes in the last year, the attack-minded midfielder has stepped up with his 3.1 shots per 90 minutes. He is also crucial in regaining the ball thanks to his 6.8 defensive interventions per 90 minutes. Looking back at teenagers within MLS, Gozo is still second in 2026 when it comes to total tackles.

"We don't know who's going to come through," said Miller about the next generation of U.S. stars. "But he should be one of the main guys in the national team in the future."

Way-too-optimistic comparison: Barcelona and Spain's Lamine Yamal
More realistic comparison: Leeds United's Brenden Aaronson

Mathis Albert | Midfielder | 17 | Borussia Dortmund

When Albert stepped onto the pitch in April for German side Borussia Dortmund, the midfielder made history as the youngest American to play in the Bundesliga at the age of 16. Since then, his appearances have been limited as a backup option on the bench --- which will skew some of our stats --- but the midfielder remains an intriguing option for the future of the national team.

Across all competitions, the former LA Galaxy academy player is averaging 8.3 progressive carries, 3.3 shots and 11.9 ground duels per 90 minutes.

"He was fearless, he was brave, he was relentless," said U.S. youth national team coach Gonzalo Segares to Goal.com about Albert.

"What stood out was his one-on-one ability. That's something we look at in players: being comfortable to take on players and beat them. That's a special talent that we look for in attacking players, and he had it."

When watching clips of the player, his pace, dribbling and tenacity (typically on the left wing) immediately shine. During his last appearance for Dortmund earlier this month, the South Carolina native led his team in shots, dribbles and ground duels in a 5-0 victory over HEBC Hamburg in the German Cup.

Way-too-optimistic comparison: PSG and Georgia's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
More realistic comparison: Real Betis and Morocco's Abde Ezzalzouli

Cavan Sullivan | Midfielder | 16 | Philadelphia Union

There is no young American player gaining more hype or attention than the Manchester City-bound Sullivan. Set to join the Premier League giants when he turns 18, the attacking midfielder has kept pace with the likes of Lionel Messi since MLS returned to play after the World Cup.

The league leaders in goal contributions after the summer break? That's Sullivan and Messi with 13 apiece.

"A lot of attention goes on the creative things that he brings to the game," said interim head coach Ryan Richter to ESPN. "But the thing that stands out to me the most is his mentality and his competitiveness and the way that he approaches every single day."

In MLS, Sullivan is averaging 1.10 goals+assists, 2.4 chances and 2.9 shots per 90 minutes. More than just a dynamic chance-creator, improving finisher, and scrappy recoverer of the ball, there's an undeniable level of confidence in a player that makes clever on-the-field decisions that's far beyond his years. He is also incredibly fun to watch with his technical flair that's on display, as seen with this backheel goal this month.

Way-too-optimistic comparison: Bayern Munich and France's Michael Olise
More realistic comparison: Arsenal and Greece's Christos Tzolis

Julian Hall | Forward | 18 | Red Bull New York

The highest-scoring teenager in MLS this season? That plaudit belongs to Red Bull New York forward Hall, who leads the 16-19 age group with a total of 10 goals across 26 appearances.

Efficiency comes to mind for the player who has 51% of his shots hitting the target, which ranks him seventh across MLS when analyzing those who have at least 10 goals this season.

Across all competitions, Hall has 18 goal contributions across 2,448 minutes in the past year, an average of 2.3 shots per 90 minutes, and is noticeably focused on close-range opportunities with 82.3% of shots emerging from inside the 18-yard box. In his first start of the 2026 season, the striker also gained plenty of attention after scoring twice for his club in a 2-1 victory.

"What stands out to me with Julian is his mentality," coach Michael Bradley said to ESPN.

"Obviously, the speed, the ability to change a game, the ability to get behind defenders and make things happen, those things are clear. He has a real belief in himself. He's willing to listen, he wants to learn, and he's constantly trying to understand how he can get better. You see that in the way he works every day."

Smart with his movement and runs, as well as a decent short passing game in the final third, expect him to be a possible difference-maker in the upcoming international window.

Way-too-optimistic comparison: Atlético Madrid and Canada's Jonathan David
More realistic comparison: Borussia Dortmund and Portugal's Fábio Silva

Adri Mehmeti | Midfielder | 17 | Red Bull New York

While Hall is scoring goals, his teammate Mehmeti is doing plenty of the supporting work in the heart of the Red Bull starting XI.

With 6.6 ball recoveries per 90 minutes, the 17-year-old not only leads his team in recoveries but also the entire league in 2026. Thanks to his 77.9 touches and 9.0 line-breaking passes per 90 minutes, Mehmeti is also the league leader for touches and through balls among teenagers this season. Able to win the ball back and create opportunities going forward, Mehmeti impacts the defense and attack in any given match.

"For Adri, I think it's about continuing to develop the physical side and the defensive side of his game while maintaining the qualities that make him special with the ball," Bradley said to ESPN.

"He's playing a lot of minutes and taking on more responsibility, so now the challenge is learning how to manage a game for 90 minutes and understanding when to take risks, when to keep the ball, when to play forward and when to help the team breathe."

With friendlies against the likes of Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada coming up, we'll see if he can maintain that unfazed calm in his first call-up with the national team.

Way-too-optimistic comparison: Manchester City and England's Elliot Anderson
More realistic comparison: Internazionale and England's Curtis Jones