Johnny Cardoso will miss the World Cup due to undergoing ankle surgery. There have been reports that he could have played in the tournament, but opted to get his injury sorted.
This is according to Marca that he sacrificed his dream of playing in the tournament to prioritize his long-term future at Atletico Madrid.
It is a sensible decision from Cardoso as he is at one of the biggest clubs in Europe. He is contracted to them until 2030, so he has the opportunity to become a hero at the club.
The short-term pain of missing the World Cup may end up benefiting him in the long-run. Especially as his ankle had already been troubling him earlier in the season. He is only 24 and will likely have many more opportunities to represent the USMNT at major tournaments.
The USMNT will miss Johnny Cardoso at the World Cup
Cardoso was born in New Jersey, but his family moved back to Brazil with him when he was just a few months old. As he is a dual national, some USMNT fans will believe that he does not feel so strongly about the Stars and Stripes, and this is why he has sacrificed playing at the World Cup.
The midfielder came through the ranks at Internacional before getting his move to Europe with Real Betis. At Betis, he was a top player in La Liga and helped them make it to the Europa Conference League final, where they lost to Chelsea last season.
He then got his move to Atletico, but injuries have disrupted his campaign. In total, this campaign, the player has played 30 times and scored just once, which came in a 4-1 win over Club Brugge in the Champions League.
The USMNT will miss Cardoso at the World Cup, but they have other options in central midfield. Mauricio Pochettino also has the likes of Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie to play in this role.
It is a shame that Cardoso will miss the tournament being co-hosted by his country, as this opportunity will not likely come around again in his playing career. However, the player must do what is best for him. Atletico is the club that pays his wages, and there could have been pressure put on him to make sure that he is fit for the new season. They are managed by Diego Simeone, and not many would be brave enough to get on the wrong side of him.
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