Johnny Cardoso, midfielder for the United States men’s national team, will not be starting for the second consecutive match under Mauricio Pochettino as the team faces Portugal on Tuesday.
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The 24-year-old Cardoso played 45 minutes against Belgium, departing at halftime while the score was tied at one. Following the match, Pochettino mentioned that Cardoso had agreed to play only a half due to experiencing some discomfort.
It has now been revealed that Cardoso is returning to Atletico Madrid for further assessment.
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“The original plan was for Johnny to play 45 minutes against Belgium,” Pochettino stated. “However, after completing the half, he reported some discomfort in his leg. As a precaution, we decided to send him back to Madrid.”
“The silver lining is that he won’t be playing this weekend due to a yellow card suspension, giving him more time to recover.”
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Johnny Cardoso’s Season is Merging Well at Atletico Madrid
Cardoso made his USMNT debut under Gregg Berhalter in 2020, earning additional caps in 2021 and 2022 before becoming a more consistent presence in 2023.
He has accumulated 23 caps with the national team while dealing with ankle, knee, and muscle injuries.
His club career reflects a similar path, having emerged as a key player for Internacional in Brazil at a young age. He then transferred to La Liga’s Real Betis in 2024, where he quickly made a name for himself as one of the league’s top young midfielders, helping Betis reach the UEFA Conference League Final last season, which they lost to Chelsea.
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A significant move to Atletico Madrid saw him feature in the first week, but an ankle injury sidelined him for two months. Since returning, he has made nine La Liga appearances, with seven as a starter since the 2026 calendar year began. Cardoso also began both legs of Atleti’s Champions League last-16 victory over Spurs and is set for a strong finish to the season.