USMNT captain Tyler Adams reveals what got him through 'dark times' during injury recovery after midfielder stars in CONCACAF Nations League final triumph over bitter rivals Mexico

The 25-year-old's long-range effort just before the halftime whistle put the U.S. in cruise control for the match, but due to minutes restrictions, he was subbed off at the break. However, his impact on the match did not go unnoticed, with it being his first international start in 478 days after being sidelined for nearly a year due to injury.

After a 2-0 victory for the USMNT, which clinched their third-straight CONCACAF Nations League title, Adams celebrated postgame with his three-month old son and fiancée, sharing how the duo got him through what he described as 'dark times' during recovery.

"It means a lot. The last time I played with the national team life looked a lot different. Now, with my son here, my fiancée here, the impact they’ve had on me has been phenomenal. They’ve got my through a lot of dark times. Being here and sharing this moment, I can’t wait to see them and give them a big hug. It means the world," Adams told CBS Sports postgame.

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The midfielder underwent a mid-summer transfer to Premier League side Bournemouth from Leeds United, but has only made two appearances for the Cherries since the start of the 2023/24 campaign. An uncertainty heading into the March U.S. camp, Adams' inclusion by USA boss Gregg Berhalter baffled some at first, but his decision was backed up by the stupendous midfield performance from his captain against Mexico.

With minutes under his belt on the international stage in 2024, and the support of his family and the U.S. fans, Adams and Bournemouth will look to get him back to playing regular minutes as we near the end of the regular season.

The USMNT midfielder will spend the next day or two celebrating with his teammates, friends and family before flying back to Europe to prepare for a string of matches with the Cherries. Bournemouth are next back in action on Saturday, March 30 against Everton.