The United States of America has always struggled to produce talent that is good enough to compete against and/or play with the powerhouses of Europe. Not many players have been able to thrive in the leagues across the pond, but times have changed.

All across Europe, Americans are seen playing vital roles in various countries. Whether it is for a League, Champions League, or League Cup match, the Americans have shown why their talent is worthy of being in Europe.

Why Europe you may ask?

Europe is where all of the best players find themselves playing. The best of the best are found in the various leagues across Europe; however, it is the UEFA Champions League that possesses the best talent in the world. The Champions League has seen the likes of Messi, Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, and many others who have been regarded as some of the greatest to ever walk onto the pitch. Being regarded as the best league in the world, the Champions League is a place where Americans are able to display themselves to the world and show what they have to offer.

The Premier League has seen some of the greatest soccer players to ever step foot on the field and continues to hold that legacy of greatness to the present day. Players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Thierry Herny have given the league the reputation of being one of the top leagues in Europe, thus making it the dream destination for an American to not only play soccer but to thrive on the pitch. That dream has been unheard of until recently.

One of the players who accomplished this dream is Christian Pulisic. He joined Chelsea in 2019 and has since won a UEFA Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, and UEFA Super Cup with them. Christian grew up in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and he was signed at the age of 16-years-old by the German club Borussia Dortmund. He quickly showed his talent as he became the youngest non-German goal scorer in the Bundesliga. This showing proved to the world that he was an American who could handle European soccer, and this caught the attention of the English club Chelsea. Chelsea helped him improve as a player and showed other Americans that the Premier League can be conquered.

Since Christian Pulisic started playing in the Premier League, many other players have joined him. Recently, Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson have joined Leeds United; so far, these two have been tearing up the league this season as Leeds sit 6th in the league table. Adams and Aaronson are not the only Americans taking Leeds to the top of the podium, for head coach Jesse Marsch is also guiding the team to success. Jesse coached in the United States for a while and has now taken over the head coaching job for Leeds after the sacking of the last manager as a result of a disappointing 17th place finish last season. So far, he has introduced new ways of doing things to the club and has improved the morale and ability of the team.

These are not the only examples of players thriving in Europe, but recently, they have been the most predominant. Not only have other Americans played in the Premier League but also in other leagues such as La Liga in Spain, Serie A in Italy, Bundesliga in Germany, and many others across the continent. Most of these players, such as Weston Mckennie and Timothy Weah, also play on the National team. These players have been further improving the reputation of the United States while also improving their own personal abilities which will be needed in November during the World Cup.

A showcase of American talent can be seen in Europe in leagues such as the Champions League which is something that would have been unheard of 20 years ago. These Americans are not just playing but also thriving in some of the best leagues in the world. This ultimately proves one thing: Americans are taking over European soccer.