The 20 best USMNT prospects and stars of the future

There was a time when the United States struggled to find depth among their prospects, but that's no longer the case. There are American youngsters playing professionally at clubs all over the world and the U.S. future looks bright.

These are the best played aged 21 and under that the U.S. has:

The 21-year-old German-American was scouted by the USMNT when he was playing for Bayern Munich II and he was approved by FIFA to represent the USMNT just before the 2014 World Cup. There, he came off the bench and scored a memorable goal against Belgium in knockout round, but he quickly faded out of the USMNT picture. As of last month, Green is back and he made a strong case for a roster spot, plus he is scoring goals for Bayern Munich's first team. Born in the U.S. but having spent most of his life in Germany, he represented Germany on the youth level but he has since been tied to the USMNT. Now, he is on the roster for the USA-Mexico clash on Friday, too.

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A 20-year-old North Carolina native, Payne plays as a fullback for FC Groningen in the Eredivisie. He joined the club in 2012 and made his first-team debut last year. He is eligible to represent the Netherlands, but has represented the USMNT on the youth level, including at the U-20 World Cup last year.

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The 19-year-old striker came up through the Real Salt Lake academy and now he's in Liverpool playing for their U-23 team. An injury this month to Danny Ings, who is ahead of Lennon on the depth chart, has created an opportunity for the Arizona native to prove himself with the first team while still just a teenager. He does have an Irish passport through his grandparents but he has been part of the USMNT youth program.

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The 19-year-old defender signed his first professional contract with Sporting Kansas City at just 16 years old. According to reports, Juventus made a $1 million bid for the then 16-year-old, which Sporting KC rejected. Ahead of the 2016 season, Sporting KC loaned Palmer-Brown to Portuguese side FC Porto for the season, where he has made two appearances for Porto II this year. He has represented the USMNT on the youth level.

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An 18-year-old winger, Wright is currently with Schalke 04 in Germany, where he has been a frequent starter for their U-19 team. He came up through the LA Galaxy's academy and signed his first professional contract with the New York Cosmos last year. It expired at the end of the season and he went to Germany in April, where he impressed in his first few months at Schalke. He has represented the USMNT on the youth level.

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An 18-year-old defender, Carter Vickers is currently playing for Tottenham Hotspur, a team that initially scouted him and brought him into their academy when he was 10. He's been on the bench for Spurs in their Premier League and Champions League campaigns, but he did start twice and play full shifts in League Cup games this season. The club considers him one of their best young players, as if being the youngest player with their first team didn't make that clear. Although born in England, Carter-Vickers has American citizenship and has represented the USMNT on the youth level. He was a surprise inclusion on the roster for Friday's USA-Mexico match.

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At 21, Miazga is now playing for Eredivisie club Vitesse on loan from Chelsea. The defender signed a homegrown contract for the New York Red Bulls and made his first-team debut at 18 years old. He played well enough last year that Chelsea signed him to a 4.5-year deal for a reported $5 million transfer fee. He was loaned to Vitesse over the summer after a deal with Espanyol could not be completed. He has earned two senior USMNT caps.

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The 18-year-old forward signed with Serie A club Fiorentina in February. A left-footed player and primarily a right winger, he has been playing for Fiorentina's U-19 side. He has represented the USMNT on the youth level. (Pictured right.)

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A key piece of the Supporters Shield-winning FC Dallas, 21-year-old Acosta has been a solid defensive midfielder for the best team in MLS this year. Acosta is no stranger to the USMNT picture – he has four caps for the senior team, although national team coaches continue to use the Plano, Texas native as a fullback no matter the age level.

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The 20-year-old striker has looked like a promising prospect for the USMNT for a while now. He currently plays for FC Utrecht in the Eredivisie, where he has featured for their senior team, but lately has featured for Utrecht II. A native of Beaverton, Oregon just outside of Portland, Rubin earned his first senior USMNT cap in 2014 and he has four caps.

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The 18-year-old San Diego native joined Fulham's youth side in 2013 and he earned his first senior cap this summer in the League Cup. The midfielder is a regular starter for Fulham's U-23 side and he has one goal so far this season. He's featured for the USMNT's U-17 and U-20 sides.

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Primarily a second striker, 21-year-old Moreno plays for Club Tijuana in Liga MX. He started out his youth career for the New York Red Bulls' youth sides and eventually signed with the club. He made two appearances for the Red Bulls during the 2013 season and joined Tijuana the following year. He is eligible to play for Mexico and El Salvador, but has represented the USMNT at the youth levels.

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A German-American, 19-year old Zelalem is back with Arsenal after a loan to Rangers FC in Scotland earlier this year. He was scouted by Arsenal and signed at 14. He made 28 league and cup appearances for Rangers this year, and now he is with the Arsenal U-23s. Zelalem has represented Germany on the youth team level, but made the switch to the USMNT last year, where has featured for the U-20 and U-23 teams.

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The 19-year-old centerback has quickly risen through the ranks of Real Salt Lake and this season he was a consistent starter, where he earned two goals and an assist. He's now considered one of the best young defenders in MLS. He has represented the USMNT on several youth levels.

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Widely considered the most promising of the USMNT's goalkeeper prospects, 21-year-old Horvath currently plays for Molde in Norway's top-flight Tippeligaen. He's been a frequent starter there and was named to the Europa League Team of the Week last year after helping Molde hold Ajax to a 1-1 draw on 10 saves. He made his senior debut for the USMNT last month in a solid performance against Cuba.

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A winger for Club Tijuana in Liga MX, 21-year-old Arriola played in the LA Galaxy's youth academy and was offered a contract, but he opted instead to go to Mexico. He joined Tijuana in 2013 and he has been a regular first-team starter. He did gain Mexican citizenship so he can count as a domestic player in Liga MX, but he has exclusively played for the USMNT on the youth and senior levels.

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The 21-year-old goalkeeper started his career with German club SC Freiburg, where he made 14 appearances for their reserve side and looked ready for a breakthrough before leaving to return home. He signed this year with the Columbus Crew but he spent this season on loan with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. He has represented the USMNT on several youth levels and starred at last year's U-20 World Cup.

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A 20-year-old native of Santa Cruz, California, Gooch was first scouted by Sunderland as a 16-year-old and since signing with them, he has worked his way to seeing minutes with their senior side. A left-footed midfielder, Gooch made his senior USMNT debut last month against New Zealand and looked solid. He did play for Ireland's U-18 side, but has featured for the USA on the U-20 level. He is not cap-tied to the USMNT, but if he plays in Friday's World Cup qualifier, which is unlikely but possible, he will be.

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A 20-year-old from Dallas, Texas, Hyndman signed with FC Dallas in 2010 and quickly attracted interested abroad. Newcastle United reportedly scouted him, but he joined Fulham's academy the following year at 15 and made it all the way to their first team. This spring, he opted to leave when his contract at Fulham expired and he went to Bournemouth, where he's played twice in the League Cup so far. He has two senior USMNT caps.

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You didn't think we were going to compile this list without putting Christian Pulisic on it, did you? At just 18 years old, he has been lighting it up for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga as a starter and he looks like he could be the USMNT's next major star. It's early, but Pulisic has already proven a lot – he has four goals for BVB and three for the USMNT, but it's his skillset that is most promising. With his dynamic runs, great crossing ability and blazing speed, he has everything a winger needs to be dangerous and he's already showing his talent on the biggest stage in club soccer. Not only did he make the roster for Friday's World Cup qualifier, but there is a darn good chance he starts.

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