'Johnny Cardoso's in his own head' - Herculez Gomez questions why Real Betis star can't replicate La Liga success for USMNT

Former USMNT forward Herculez Gomez recently expressed frustration over Johnny Cardoso's inconsistent performances between club and country. The American midfielder enjoyed a standout season for La Liga side Real Betis and was expected to be a key figure for the USMNT at the Gold Cup. However, he struggled against Turkey, and Gomez pointed to a possible mental block that's preventing Cardoso from replicating his club form on the international stage.

“But not like this, not like this Cris [Cristina Alexander] and not like spot on,” Gomez said on ESPN's Futbol Americas when asked if there’s a pattern of players excelling for their clubs but underperforming for the U.S. “He’s in his own head, and you don’t have other players who are - in their own league right now - one of the best players and constantly being highlighted as one of the best. And you have a team like Atletico, who is known for their defensive posturing, and [Diego] Cholo Simeone saying, ‘That’s the guy I want, that’s the key, I want him in the center of the field.’”

He added, “For whatever reason [with the national team], he’s in his own head and he makes things so complicated. He’s a player that’s supposed to be cerebral, he’s a player that’s supposed to link from A to B but when he goes to the USMNT, there seems to be some this sense that he can’t do it, but he’s the only one that believes that. Because he keeps getting opportunities, and he keeps letting himself down."

The 23-year-old American midfielder played a key role for Real Betis, making 46 appearances across all competitions as the La Liga side finished sixth in the league and reached the final of the UEFA Europa Conference League. Gomez added that Cardoso should, theoretically, be able to translate all that skill and talent for the U.S. side and needs to start by playing simple football.

“There’s no reason on earth that good at the La Liga level and can’t do it at the CONCACAF level...I don’t know if I buy this as a USMNT problem, I think this is strictly Johnny Cardoso here," Gomez explained. "He’s just got to play simple, play to his strengths, play to his attributes."

With the 2026 World Cup approaching, the USMNT desperately needs players who can perform consistently at both club and international levels. Cardoso's inability to translate his La Liga success to the national team represents a concerning pattern that affects the team's midfield stability and overall performance.

Cardoso will need to address his mental approach to international matches if he hopes to secure a starting position for the 2026 World Cup. The 2025 Gold Cup kicks off on June 15 for the USMNT, but before that, they face Switzerland on June 10 in a friendly game.