Johnny Cardoso watched from the sidelines as Atletico Madrid defeated Lamine Yamal and Barcelona 2-0 in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal. The USMNT midfielder started in the United States’ recent 5-2 friendly loss to Kevin De Bruyne’s Belgium, but did not feature in the second friendly, a defeat against Portugal in late March.
During the USA vs. Belgium match, Cardoso was forced to leave the game at halftime after reporting discomfort in his leg. Further testing at Atlético Madrid confirmed that the 24-year-old suffered a left thigh muscle injury, which will sideline him for approximately two weeks. While Cardoso is expected to be fully fit in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, another key USMNT player will miss the entire tournament.
Photo by Alvaro Medranda/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Patrick Agyemang, after a couple of seasons with Charlotte FC, transferred to the English Football League Championship's Derby County in 2025. The forward from East Hartford, Connecticut, has also been a key contributor for the USMNT since joining the national team last year, scoring six goals in 14 appearances.
But on Monday, during Derby County's 2-0 win over Stoke City, Agyemang went down with a non-contact injury after attempting to control the ball with his chest. He was later diagnosed with a ruptured Achilles tendon in his right leg, which will force him to miss the rest of the season and the entire 2026 FIFA World Cup. And on Wednesday, Agyemang took to social media to share an emotional message of thanks and resilience with his fans after the devastating blow.
"Man, words can’t really describe the moment I realized what happened," Agyemang wrote on Instagram. "You can only imagine the thoughts going through my head… but that’s life sometimes. First, I just want to thank God for everything He’s done in my life and for all that’s still to come.Also wanted to say thank you all for the love, messages, and support. it’s been amazing and truly touched my heart. I’ll be back soon, don’t worry 🖤"
Cardoso took notice of Agyemang's post, sending his best wishes in the comments section using four emojis: "🦾🦾❤️❤️."
The USA will open World Cup play on Friday, June 12, facing Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
