Americans in Champions League: Johnny Cardoso leads list of eight U.S. players in Europe’s biggest competition

When the Champions League play kicks off on Tuesday across Paramount+, CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports Golazo Network, fans of the United States men's national team may be searching for players like Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic. For America's biggest stars you need to look to the Europa League (kicking off on Wednesday, September 16, across CBS Sports and Paramount+), but that doesn't mean there is a shortage of Americans in Europe's premier competition. Led by Sergiño Dest and Ricardo Pepi with PSV, there will be eight Americans taking part in Champions League soccer, though only four of them have senior national team caps.

Only a few years ago, this would have seemed inconceivable, as any American in Europe's premier competition would've almost certainly been in the national team mix at minimum, but that has changed. More American players than ever are playing their club soccer at Europe's highest levels. Thanks to that, this edition of the Champions League will see Americans who are USMNT regulars, young players looking to make a name, and even journeymen who are seizing the moment. So let's meet the Americans in the Champions League this campaign.

An unfortunate injury kept the Atletico Madrid…

Original source: https://www.cbssports.com/