Donovan Ranks Raines Above Mehmeti Among USMNT Youth
Landon Donovan rated New England Revolution midfielder Brooklyn Raines ahead of Red Bull New York's Adri Mehmeti in a youth-player ranking.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Soccer
Landon Donovan rated Brooklyn Raines above Adri Mehmeti in a discussion of the best young U.S. men's national team players. Donovan made the comments on his podcast, Unfiltered Soccer, alongside Tim Howard, who named his own top five.
Why it matters
The ranking reflects how two young midfielders earned their first U.S. caps during the September-October fixtures, with Raines featuring in all four wins. Mehmeti, who is 17, made Mauricio Pochettino's November roster, while Raines did not, underscoring the different paths the two players are taking.
Raines featured in all four September-October USMNT wins, while Mehmeti, 17, was an unused substitute in a 3-0 win over Mexico. Raines is four years older than Mehmeti, and the ranking does not specify the criteria used to compare them.
The players
Landon Donovan
Former U.S. men's national team star who now co-hosts the podcast Unfiltered Soccer.
Brooklyn Raines
Midfielder for the New England Revolution who earned a U.S. cap during the September-October fixtures.
Adri Mehmeti
Forward for Red Bull New York who, at 17, made Mauricio Pochettino's November U.S. roster.
Mauricio Pochettino
Head coach of the U.S. men's national team who named the November roster.
The details
Donovan made the comparison on his podcast, Unfiltered Soccer, and said he is curious to see how Mehmeti develops over time. Donovan and Howard each named five players in a challenge to identify the best U.S. player under 22.
Timeline
September-October 2026: Raines and Mehmeti earn their first U.S. caps.
November 2026: Pochettino names the roster that includes Mehmeti but not Raines.
Season Trajectory
Donovan's ranking places Raines and Mehmeti within the pipeline of young U.S. talent he once belonged to as a teenager. The comparison shows how the current generation is being measured against the standards set by players like Donovan.
Mehmeti's inclusion on the November roster and Raines's absence from it affect who is available for the next U.S. fixtures. Fantasy and club-level observers can track which of the two players gets minutes with the national team in upcoming matches.
The takeaway
Rankings like Donovan's highlight how quickly young players can move from club soccer into the national team picture. Following which players earn minutes will show which of these early impressions hold up.
Further reading
For more on the national team's youth movement, see Soccer coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sports Illustrated.
