Gio Reyna made an outstanding return to action with the U.S. men’s national team on Saturday night in a 2–1 win over Paraguay, catching the attention of his former Borussia Dortmund teammate Jude Bellingham.
Reyna, who had missed several USMNT camps due to a lack of form and fitness, scored in the fourth minute against the South Americans, heading home a cross from Max Arfsten at Subaru Park.
The 22-year-old continued to impact the game later on, helping to set up Folarin Balogun for the USMNT’s second goal and eventual game-winner. Bellingham, who was overseas with the England national team at the time of the victory, still praised his former Bundesliga teammate on social media.
“The cream always rises to the top,” the Real Madrid star commented on Reyna’s Instagram post in which the American midfielder celebrated his masterful performance with the Stars and Stripes.
The two were teammates for three seasons with Dortmund before Bellingham eventually left to join ’s Real Madrid ahead of the 2023–24 season, while Reyna’s departure to Borussia Mönchengladbach came in the 2025 summer transfer window.
Bellingham’s message was identical to one he left in Reyna’s Instagram comments in 2024 when Reyna scored his last goal for the national team in a win over Mexico to capture the 2024 Concacaf Nations League title.
