We apologize in advance for completely ruining your weekend vibes. Young American Gio Reyna is hurt, again. The 19-year-old Borussia Dortmund starlet pulled up injured less than two minutes into his start against Stuttgart on Friday, just weeks after returning from a five-month stint on the sidelines with another injury.
Reyna left the pitch in tears after feeling something go in his right hamstring on his first touch of the night while playing a give-and-go with Thorgan Hazard. The USMNTer was able to walk off under his own power — visibly limping — but was clearly distraught.
Gio Reyna Injury vs Stuttgart
Gio Reyna was in tears after being forced off with an injury early in Dortmund's match pic.twitter.com/CmDjU7jnll
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 8, 2022
I think a lot of USMNT fans are crying with Gio right now. The poor guy can’t stay healthy.
Reyna has struggled with injuries since he started his professional career. He was a late scratch from what was to be his first Dortmund start in May 2020, ruined ESPN’s planned “Reyna Cam” for the March 2021 Der Klassiker with an injury and missed the end of 2021 with a hamstring injury picked up on national team duty in the first World Cup qualifiers in September 2021.
While the extent of this latest injury is not yet known, it’s never a good sign when a player has repeat hamstring injuries. When Reyna returned from injury in February, he lasted just 30 minutes before leaving the pitch in tears. That injury turned out to not be too serious, and Reyna returned within a couple of weeks.
Heartbreaking to watch: 19-Year old American Gio Reyna who has just battled back from double injury limps off in tears after pulling up in pain just 77 seconds into this start. Wishing Gio Strength, Love and Courage in this moment of Challnege pic.twitter.com/iP1NqM7OqG
— roger bennett (@rogbennett) April 8, 2022
Reyna was available for the final World Cup qualifiers in March, though coach Gregg Berhalter chose to use him sparingly. When he did make it on the pitch, he showed why his injury is so devastating to USMNT fans with an incredible run against Mexico that had his coach comparing him to Diego Maradona.
U.S. fans will hope Reyna is able to return soon, or at least by the time the 2022 World Cup rolls around in November. At the same time, Berhalter has to wonder if he can trust Reyna to stay healthy for a tournament in which the USMNT will play three games in eight days in the group stage.
Fortunately for Dortmund, Reyna’s replacement, Julian Brandt, scored two goals in a 2-0 victory.
HAALAND TO BRANDT FOR DORTMUND'S OPENING GOAL! It stands after a long VAR check.
The pass from Jude Bellingham pic.twitter.com/HLRjvLS06b— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 8, 2022
TWO FOR BRANDT OFF THE BENCH pic.twitter.com/N5ypx7X1cu
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 8, 2022
