Ranked: Kevin Paredes, Tanner Tessman and the top five USMNT players to watch at the Paris Olympics

Taylor Booth may not be the most well-known player in the pool this summer, but he could seemingly be the x-factor that drives a potential tournament run.

American Soccer Now reports that in a closed-door friendly ahead of the Games, the USMNT played Spain to a 1-1 draw. Booth scored the goal for the USMNT, who also won an ensuing voluntary shootout between the two sides.

Booth is a special talent, and he showed glimpses of it between what was an injury-riddled campaign in the Dutch Eredivisie with Utretcht, where he netted seven goals in 44 appearances. The dynamic winger had an incredible two-match span in February, where he scored five goals in two matches, before sustaining a three-month-long injury to practically end his season.

Now, back to top fitness, Booth could be the goalscoring attacker that sneaks up this summer. Can he find his shooting boots? The U.S. may need him to do just that.

Caleb Wiley may be the most vital defender for U.S. this summer, but it's not because of his defensive prowess, or even the attacking motion he brings to the pitch.

Rather, it's his continued development. He might be the most exciting fullback to come through the U.S. ranks since a young Deandre Yedlin in 2014 with Tottenham Hotspur. Wiley is headed to Chelsea FC if reports are accurate, as the London-based club are set to pay upwards of $10M for his services after the conclusion of the Paris Games.

A brilliant left-sided defender, Wiley could announce his presence on the international stage this summer with a good tournament. Not only that, but he could make a case to new Blues boss Enzo Maresca that he's a player who can contribute to the first team, rather than go on loan to BlueCo-owned Ligue 1 side Strasbourg.

The 2023 U.S. Soccer Young Player of the Year, Kevin Paredes is arguably the player who needs a breakout tournament more than any other.

He logged 15 starts across 28 matches in the German Bundesliga last season, his best professional campaign yet to date. Still, he's missing a lot in his game. From goals and assists to creating danger in the final third, Paredes has yet to find that true sense of confidence that separates good from great.

Mitrovic is thrilled to have him on board, and the plan to get him in Paris was put into play months ahead.

"His club was very, very supportive. We are very happy that we have never been challenged by them. Kevin is important for us," the Olympic boss said. "Kevin, again, can play multiple positions. He brings a lot of qualities to this group. Also, he's one very energetic person that boosts the energy off the field. And that's very important in tournaments. We are really happy to have Kevin with us."

Expected to be a locked-in starter in Paris, Paredes will heavily be relied on to beat defenders 1v1 in the final third while sourcing balls into the box for the U.S. to attack.

Younger brother of first-team attacker Brenden, Paxten Aaronson is the most versatile attacker in the pool this summer. Mitrovic has even gone as far to say that he sees the Eintracht Frankfurt winger as backup striker this summer. As someone who can play "all four positions," the USMNT boss rates him incredibly highly.

Spending a stint on loan with Vitesse in the Dutch Eredivisie during the second-half of the 2023-24 campaign, the 20-year-old scored four goals in 14 matches. Now, heading into 2024-25. he's already agreed a loan move with Utrecht in the Dutch league, with a breakout campaign being touted.

First up, though, is this summer in Paris. Slated to start in an attacking midfield role, Aaronson will be relied on to link the midfield and the attack as the U.S. begins their run towards the podium.

Linked with an incredible transfer to reigning Serie A champions and 2023 UEFA Champions League finalists Inter Milan, Tanner Tessman is perhaps the most talented player with the group in Paris.

A versatile midfielder, Tessman has a unique background. Prior to signing for FC Dallas as a teenager, he was recruited by legendary college football coach Dabo Swinney at Clemson University. in an interview with ESPN in 2020, Swinney claimed Tessman was so talented that he could "go into an NFL training camp and compete."

Safe to say, though, Tessman made the right call. He now plies his trade in Italy with Venezia in Serie A, and just earned promotion to the top-division after an absolutely brilliant campaign in Venice.

A locked-in starter under Mitrovic this summer, Tessman is perhaps the brightest first-team midfield prospect in the pool that hasn't broken through.