How Diego 'Big Balls' Luna is making Mauricio Pochettino's USMNT World Cup squad selection difficult

It's also good that he already has a moment like this under his belt, as Luna's start to the season for Real Salt Lake hasn't been what one would hope. While he's feeling good and getting back to his best now, which has resulted in three goals and an assist in only seven appearances for the club due to regaining fitness, Luna wasn't present for a critical March international break that was the last chance to impress Pochettino under his direction in person ahead of the World Cup squad being named on May 26. Missing out was a moment that frustrated Luna, who scored this weekend for RSL, but it's also not one that he has dwelled on because it's important to keep focus on what is in front of him instead of dreaming about the World Cup.

Juanma and Diego are making it look too easy 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/MLuNQeLttM

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) May 2, 2026

"I think I keep it very focused daily and what's important at the time, which is performing with RSL, and making sure that the team is getting wins and getting good results, and finishing as high as we can in the table until it's time for that World Cup announcement and roster announcements," Luna said. "I think doing all the right things on a daily basis and on the weekends is going to give me the best opportunity to have a good summer."

So far, Luna has been a driving force behind Real Salt Lake's ascent up the MLS Western Conference, but he has also had help from other young players coming into their own, such as Zavier Gozo, 19, and Aiden Herzarkhani, 18. The young duo has thrown Luna into an odd position despite only being 22 himself, where he's one of the veterans of the squad and is expected to take on leadership roles, but like every challenge that he has faced so far, this is yet another that Luna has taken in stride while moving forward in his career, and it's also a role that he's enjoying.

"I'm definitely more of a letting my work on the field, letting my work ethic [speak], and contributing to the team that way, show my role and the leadership that I can bring to this team. Pressing a ball that doesn't seem pressable, making plays that are needed in certain times for the team," he said. "I think that's how I show 80% of my leadership, but then it comes to the 20% where it's communicating to the younger guys on the field, helping out if they're unaware, if they're stuck, stuff like that. I think that's something that I need to build on more, but that's something that has definitely been added to my game."

While Luna isn't far removed from being in their shoes, it's something that has been able to help him show up for and connect with younger players on the roster. RSL coach Pablo Mastroeni has been able to instill a strong system as manager, but it's something that's made easier when he has players like Luna on the roster.

Leadership isn't the only new thing that Luna is grappling with this season, as it's hard to see a USMNT promo without seeing Luna somewhere near it. Recognized by TMZ, all over USMNT content, and also becoming one of the faces of Major League Soccer, including being the face of a new partnership with Head & Shoulders, Luna is becoming a household name in America, and he wouldn't have it any other way.

"I always knew that I wanted to become a professional soccer player," Luna said. "I always knew that I wanted big things for myself, and I expected big things for myself. And the work ethic behind it, and the sacrifices I took behind it to make these things a reality, were all in the mindset. We're all in the journey, the idea of doing it. But it was about making those sacrifices, taking those steps, and actually putting my foot down to make them come alive.

"So it's very surreal, I'm very grateful, very blessed. And yeah, I think now being able to have a partnership and see my face, you know, on billboards and stuff like that, now partnering up with Head & Shoulders, which is an amazing product that I use daily, I think that's super exciting. So I think now, to be partnered up and collabing with these types of brands and stuff that I used to wear and used to grow up knowing about, it's a dream come true."

If Luna is able to accomplish his goals of making the World Cup squad and eventually making the jump to Europe, everything that he has learned while at Salt Lake will all come together, and he'll be hearing much more about that broken nose as it truly becomes part of USMNT lore. Luna is doing what he can to keep his head down and make Pochettino's job of picking a roster as hard as possible, and at this point, all he can do is wait, while feeling confident that he's done what he's needed.