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<ul><li>Lalas applauds Sargent's Championship Team of the Season selection</li><li>Believes Luna thrives in the spotlight after standout performances</li><li>Suggests that Luna will be in conversation for USMNT</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

'If you want to be a star, stars step up' - Alexi Lalas praises USMNT's Josh Sargent and Diego Luna for 'wonderful' performances at the club level

Friendlies

Switzerland

USMNT striker Josh Sargent’s remarkable campaign for Norwich City was rewarded this week when he was <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/usmnt-star-josh-sargent-english-championship-team-of-the-season-norwich-city-efl/blt26d97a0c5ec7c816" target="_blank">including on the English Football League Championship Team of the Season</a>. The former Werder Bremen star netted 15 goals for the Canaries. Former USMNT star Alexi Lalas praised Sargent for the honor, calling it "fully deserved."“He has had a wonderful, a wonderful season," Lalas said on his State of the Union podcast. "He has gotten us to talk about him on a consistent basis. Now, obviously it's because we are lacking a number a No. 9 and it hasn't necessarily translated to the national team. But from a pure championship perspective, I think it's a no brainer to have Josh Sargent in that team of the season. And, you know, he should be incredibly proud of the season that he put out. We'll see if that if he's able to parlay that into a potential move to someplace bigger.”

WHAT HAPPENED

Lalas also praised Diego Luna's emergence as a creative force for both Real Salt Lake and the national team and suggested that the 21-year-old midfielder's fearless mentality makes him ideally suited for the international stage.“He is in his moment right now," he said of Luna. "And sometimes when everybody starts talking about you, especially if you're a younger, less experienced player, it can be difficult to accept that. And then there's others - and I think that's what Luna is here - that are kind of living up to their reputation and their larger-than-life personality and enjoying it and embracing it. And so that's what's you're seeing. This was a big, big performance... when it comes to Diego Luna, I think we're going to be talking about, especially over the next couple a couple of years relative to the World Cup, how he is kind of burst on the scene.“And it hasn't felt like a burden to him. As a matter of fact, I think he likes the spotlight. And as we always say, 'If you want to be a star, stars step up.' When everybody is waiting there with their arms full. That's saying, all right, do something - and in this case, he certainly did.”

WHAT ALEXI LALAS SAID

The USMNT continues its preparation for the 2026 World Cup with ongoing questions about who will lead the line and provide attacking creativity against elite sides. Sargent's renaissance at Norwich, alongside Luna's meteoric rise for Real Salt Lake, represents the kind of development pathway American soccer has long sought to establish.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Both players will look to solidify their positions within the USMNT setup during the upcoming international fixtures and the Gold Cup this summer. For Sargent, the Championship season only has one game left and he then faces a potentially pivotal transfer window where a move to a higher level of competition could further enhance his national team prospects.Luna, on the other hand, has become a consistent figure for Real Salt Lake and faces Vancouver Whitecaps next on May 3.

WHAT’S NEXT?

'If you want to be a star, stars step up' - Alexi Lalas praises USMNT's Josh Sargent and Diego Luna for 'wonderful' performances at the club level | Goal.com

The outspoken analyst singled out the Norwich City and the Real Salt Lake stars, hailed them for recent showings

&apos;If you want to be a star, stars step up&apos; - Alexi Lalas praises USMNT&apos;s Josh Sargent and Diego Luna for &apos;wonderful&apos; performances at the club level

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