The US has always been a bastion of sporting brilliance. Team USA is constantly developing world-beating athletes for the Olympic Games and the incredible US college sports system is churning out amazing players who go on to wow the audiences of leagues like the NBA, NFL, and MLB.
However, there has been a slew of major stars who have either retired in recent years or at least hinted at calling it day, with the likes of Tom Brady, Simone Biles, Lindsey Vonn, Serena Williams, and Tiger Woods among just a few who come to mind.
This means that the American sporting complex is under pressure to produce some new heroes, who can then be the flag bearers for American excellence, as well as being brand ambassadors for American sports clothing, equipment, and nutrition companies.
Here we take a look at just some of the young American professional athletes who could have what it takes to go to that next level and become massive global mega stars.
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Joe Burrow
There was no shortage of bets being wagered on Joe Burrow to lead the Bengals to Super Bowl glory back on the 12th of Feb, but ultimately Cincinnati could not follow through on their promise to deliver a maiden Super Bowl crown for their franchise.
However, now that the dust has settled and the results of OddsChecker free bets are clear for all to see, it is obvious what an incredible job Burrow managed to do in only his second year in the NFL, defying the odds at every turn. What made his team’s ascension to the sport’s showcase event so special in the eyes of betting tipsters and fans was the fact he managed to get the Bengals there despite being sacked a record number of times during the playoffs.
While there are plenty of detractors who believe this current Bengals roster will evaporate during the off-season, there is no doubt that Burrow has given long-suffering Cincinnati fans something to cheer about for the first time in forever.
Zion Williamson
There have been plenty of stories circulating online and on social media about the yo-yoing weight of this prodigiously talented New Orleans Pelican. Despite this, and at the age of just 21-years-old, Williamson is seen by many as the natural successor to players of bygone eras like Shaquille O’Neal, whose physical strength, presence, and height, was combined with a deep understanding of how all those attributes can benefit a team as a whole.
Williamson’s weight issues have largely been down to time spent away from the practice court due to injury. However, carrying all those extra pounds will mean any recovery he does make is slow and arduous. American NBA fans, and especially those from New Orleans, will be hoping Williamson gets his diet in order so he can make the most of his formidable talent.
Weston McKennie
For a top American soccer player to make it in the pro game, they usually must head outside of the MLS and go to Europe, where some of the best teams in the world reside, like Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Juventus.
One European league that is famous for bringing young American talent through its ranks is the German Bundesliga. That is exactly where Weston McKennie began plying his trade with Schalke. A few years down the line the 23-year-old became the first ever American to sign for Juventus.
His eye-catching performances now mean he is a regular in the Juventus starting eleven, and he is also helping the US men’s international side reach new heights, alongside other US globe trotters like Christian Pulisic and Sergiño Dest. If McKennie can add to the silverware he has already picked up with Juventus over the coming years, then he will cement himself as one of the best US sporting exports in the world.
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Ryan García
Known as Kingry by his millions of Instagram and TikTok followers, 23-year-old Ryan Garcia is already one of the most high-profile fighters in the world of boxing, despite not even holding a world title. His most significant victory to date was against the former Olympic gold medalist Luke Campbell, who he knocked out after suffering a knockdown himself earlier in the fight.
Since then, he has taken some enforced breaks from the sport he loves, but is due to make a highly anticipated comeback against Emmanuel Tagoe, in San Antonio on the 9th of April. If Garcia comes through that fight with flying colors, then he should expect to fight for a lightweight world in the back half of 2022.
It still remains to be seen if García is truly an elite level boxer, but a victory over the likes of Gervonta Davis, Vasyl Lomachenko, or George Kambosos Jr. would go a long way to cementing him as one of the biggest draws in the sport.
Just recently he switched trainer, leaving behind Eddy Reynoso for Joe Goossen. It is unclear how hooking up with such an old school trainer will work for the social media obsessed García.
Adley Rutschman
The MLB drafts in 2019 and 2020 were packed with so much talent that they are still talked about today as being some of the best drafts ever seen in MLB history. Part of that vaunted class was Adley Rutschman, who was duly scooped up by the Orioles. It’s the same franchise that may ultimately try to hold Rutschman back from playing in the big leagues too soon, worried that his wages may skyrocket in the process.
However, it would appear that the 23-year-old’s performances at Triple-A level will force their hand and have them promote this catcher to where he deserves to be – rubbing shoulders with the great and the good of the MLB.