USMNT Striker Power Rankings: Ricardo Pepi, Folarin Balogun lead, but CONCACAF Nations League could shake up race

Who knows where Dike would be if injuries hadn't taken over these last few years?

It's been two years since we've seen a healthy version of Dike, who came back early in 2024 just to rupture his Achilles a few weeks later. It's been a nightmare for the former Orlando City striker who, when healthy, is a real handful that has the potential to compete at the top of this list.

"Daryl Dike, in terms of what he can give you, he's so different from all of them, that he's special in that sense," U.S. legend Jozy Altidore told GOAL in December. "This guy is the biggest wildcard because if they are all different, he's the most different, in terms of his ceiling."

It's just been too long since we saw that version of him. Hopefully someday soon we'll see him again and he can claim a spot that many thought he'd have by now if everything had gone to plan.

The last year or so has been frustrating for McGuire, who began 2024 by seeing his big move overseas fall apart due to an administration error. He was still good for Orlando City, although not quite as good as he was in 2023. He went on to start for the U.S. at the Olympics, too, as the coaching staff put a bunch of faith in him to lead the line in France, although it didn't result in goals.

There's a reason he nearly got that move to Blackburn, though, and the 23-year-old striker will get another chance to prove it here in 2025.

A late-season injury knocked him out of January camp contention, but he is expected to be back in the first few months of the MLS season. McGuire has plenty to prove when he does get back as he looks to take a leap for club and country this season.

Ferreira draws criticism, but the guy gets goals on the international level. He's got 15 in just 23 appearances and people have downplayed where the goals have come from, which is how he got his "Pirate of the Caribbean" moniker.

Even so, if it was so easy, everyone would do it, right?

Ferreira took a step back last season but has now moved on from FC Dallas into a new situation in Seattle. With the Sounders, Ferreira is a big piece of the puzzle, one that, from the outside, seems to fit together nicely with a lead by Jordan Morris. That, in theory, should lead to a return to form. If Ferreira can be in that 15-20 goal range in this MLS season, he'll remain in the hunt.

It's almost unfathomable that Agyemang is even on this list. Six months ago, he wouldn't have been close. A few years ago, he was playing Division 3 soccer. Now, he's right there and could realistically be in the squad for the CONCACAF Nations League.

That comes after a breakout January camp. Agyemang scored two goals in just under 90 minutes, showing the movement and finishing required of a true international-level forward. He is still new to all of this, though, and still has so much to prove. This will be his first full season as a starter in MLS, and he'll have to prove himself at that level first if he wants to become a consistent member of the USMNT.

For Agyemang, it will all be about starting hot. If he can get some goals early in the MLS season, he'll be in a good spot.

He's betting himself by moving to Austin. The club is betting on him, too. The payout will have to come in the form of a whole bunch of goals.

Vazquez started well in Monterrey, but it was the right time for him to return to MLS. Now at Austin FC, he'll be the guy, and the expectation is that he'll lead the line and assert himself as one of MLS' most high-scoring forwards. He proved that during his time in Cincinnati, so there's no reason to doubt him.

What helps Vazquez's USMNT case is that he does have a unique game stylistically. He's more of an old-school forward, one that can use his size to change a game, particularly off the bench. That's not to say he isn't technical because he is, but that size is an asset that certainly makes him an intriguing option for the USMNT.

He's played out wide for club and country, but Wright originally started his career as a striker and could easily play the role again for the USMNT.

Wright got a taste of life under Pochettino in October, when he came off the bench in both games during that window. An ankle injury has hampered him since but, prior to that injury, he was in fantastic form, scoring in four of his last five Championship games for Coventry City.

Wright has hit at least 14 goals in each of his last three seasons. Before the injuries, he was at an even better pace this season. His versatility is an asset, too, which is why he can be an answer down the middle just as he is out wide.

Injuries have robbed Sargent of multiple opportunities to be the guy for the USMNT. It seems like March will be his big chance, though.

While those ahead of him have been hit with injury issues, Sargent himself has recently returned, and he's returned with goals. The Norwich striker has picked up right where he left off, scoring different goals in different ways in a tough league. He's never gotten the chance to consistently show he can do that with the USMNT, but that seems to be coming in March.

With Pepi and Balogun injured, the responsibility will fall to Sargent. If he steps up, he'll push his way into challenging those two on the road to 2026.

Last summer at the Copa America, Balogun showed why he was the USMNT's No. 1. He was one of few American players able to leave the tournament with his head held high, largely due to the two goals he scored in the group stage.

Since, though nothing has gone to plan. Balogun played just seven games for Monaco before a shoulder injury totally derailed his season. He scored three in those seven games, but there's a very real chance we won't see Balogun again until after the CONCACAF Nations League.

When healthy, his pace is a game-breaking asset for the USMNT, and Pochettino will hope to get to use that pace at some point when Balogun is healthy. For now, though, he's No. 2 on the list until he gets back to scoring goals again.

With his scoring rate this season, he’s the clear frontrunner.

Heading into the season, Pepi was certainly behind Balogun, which was made relatively clear at the Copa America. Now, 17 league goals later, Pepi has leapfrogged his way to the top while putting himself on the transfer radar of clubs in the world's top leagues. Few strikers in the world have been as decisive and dominant as Pepi, which is crazy to say when you consider the fact that Pepi hasn't even been PSV's starting No. 9.

If everyone else is healthy, he should be the USMNT's guy, though. However, Pepi isn't healthy right now, having recently undergone knee surgery. So much can change by the time he does get back but, right now, if all else was even, Pepi would be the starter.