With CONCACAF arguably the deepest it's ever been, GOAL looks at the North American stars ruling the region
Who is the best player in CONCACAF? The debate rages on – and rightfully so. With around 400 days until the 2026 World Cup, all eyes are on the region, especially as the U.S., Canada, and Mexico prepare to host. The CONCACAF Nations League offered another stage for the region's biggest stars to shine, and it's safe to say Mexico's triumph shook things up. Now, all eyes are on the Gold Cup, a tournament that will once again put this region's best on display.
Determining the best isn’t easy. CONCACAF is arguably deeper than ever in terms of talent. For years, the U.S. and Mexico dominated, but that’s no longer the case. The rise of teams such as Canada, Panama and Jamaica has made this debate more intriguing, thanks to their own standout players.
Panama, the competition's underdog, defeated the U.S. to book a date with Mexico in the Nations League finale, and it was only a late penalty call that undid their quest for a trophy. And Canada denied the U.S. any sense of redemption by winning the third-place game over the three-time defending champions. All four will be among the favorites at the Gold Cup this summer, as all feature some of the best players in the region.
When evaluating the best, several factors come into play, but none more than form – at both club and international level. The truly great players deliver no matter the jersey. That’s what sets them apart.
So who are the best players in CONCACAF right now? GOAL takes a look.
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7Alphonso Davies: Canada ⬇️
Davies will soon fall off this list, but it's worth mentioning him at the moment.
The Canadian star tore his ACL in Canada's win over the USMNT, an unfortunate setback at a key time. The injury has put Canada and Bayern Munich at odds, but the hope is that cooler heads will prevail on both sides. The good news is that he'll be back in advance of the World Cup, but he'll need to recover.
On his day, Davies might be the best player in this region, one with an unmatched ability to break a game open. There's a reason he's just signed a new Bayern contract, ending any hopes of a Real Madrid move: Bayern need him. And they will hope to have him back at full health.
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6Santi Gimenez: Mexico ⬇️
His strike partner did all of the heavy lifting during the Nations League, but EL Tri fans have plenty of reasons to remain high on their young AC Milan star.
He assisted Joao Felix in his Milan debut, scored his first goal just a few days later, and then netted in the Champions League loss to his former club Feyenoord. In total, he has three goals in his first 13 games in all competitions, a decent haul given the leap in level. Milan will need more of him going forward but Gimenez wasn't a player brought in for a quick fix. He's one for the future and Milan will see a better version of him next season, for sure.
As for Mexico, Gimenez proved he can play as a second striker during the Match window, helping lead El Tri's attack in the Nations League. Gimenez still has a lot of growing to do if he's going to be the prolific goalscorer many think he can be on the international level.
With just four goals in 34 appearances, and none since 2023, Gimenez is due for a major leap with El Tri and should be given a real chance to make a starting spot his own on the road to the World Cup.
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5Tyler Adams: USMNT ⬆️
A healthy Adams is key for both Bournemouth and the USMNT, who are both benefiting from the midfielder's return earlier this year.
For the USMNT, that difference didn't result in team results, but the eye test made it quite clear how much Adams adds to the midfield. The debate rages when it comes to him having another defensive-minded midfielder next to him – and the fact that it is a debate illustrates just how much ground Adams can cover.
He remains the key player in the USMNT's spine and, just as importantly, he's still the best leader this team has. He's been thriving for Bournemouth, too, earning the club's Player of the Month honors for February.
With Adams healthy, Bournemouth are making a push for a European spot, although they do have some significant ground to make up in that race. His injury issues seem behind him, which means Adams can now reclaim his place among the best in CONCACAF.
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4Antonee Robinson: USMNT ↔️
The assist numbers have dried up in recent months, but there's no denying that the American fullback has been elite in the Premier League this season Only one player, Mohamed Salah, has more assists in England's top flight this season – with the Liverpool star at 17 to Robinson's 10.
Robinson remains in a four-way tie for second despite an assist drought dating back to February. Still, Robinson continues to play at the highest of levels for Fulham, a team that is generally doing well in the world's fiercest league.
If you didn't believe that before, just look at how much the USMNT dropped off without him in the XI in the Nations League. With Robinson injured, the U.S. struggled with width, something that the Fulham star adds to the team every time he's on the field. They'll need that at the Gold Cup this summer if they hope to put this spring's disaster behind them.