Gio Reyna makes first Borussia Dortmund start and dazzles with brilliant assist to Erling Haaland

Rising American soccer star Gio Reyna got his first start for Borussia Dortmund on Saturday against RB Leipzig in a battle for second place, and boy did he look good. The 17-year-old son of former United States men’s national team star Claudio Reyna showed off his ability in the first half with what can only be described as a world-class assist to Erling Haaland to give Dortmund the lead in a 2-0 victory that secured second place and a Champions League spot.

On the counter, which Reyna helped start, the ball fell to Reyna inside the box after a great pass from Julian Brandt on the right. Here’s a 17-year-old who had to be a bit nervous about his first start with a golden chance in front of goal to put the ball into either the left or right side of the net. Instead, he catches the defense off guard with an unexpected pass to Haaland that played him onside perfectly to open the score. Take a look:

While it may not be that flashy, it’s important to understand just how good that was. If it were Lionel Messi laying off to Luis Suarez for a goal in the same situation, it would be described by every positive adjective in the English language and leave people drooling. Reyna had the opportunity to get a sure shot on goal, but you can tell he noticed Haaland out of the corner of his eye, opened up his body and laid off the perfect ball. Check out the main defender in front of Reyna who turns his body to protect himself, assuming a shot is coming. That hesitation and expectation of a shot gives Haaland the time and space to slot it home.

A precious pass with top-level precision. It’s not a play you expect a teen to make, it’s a pass you expect a star to make. Here’s one in the making proving his worth in his first start and already has quite the fitting nickname:

What a performance, and what a nickname.