FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — Alejandro Zendejas is an instantly recognizable superstar in one of this summer’s World Cup host nations. It’s just not necessarily the one he is representing. Yet, anyway.Zendejas might have been the happiest inclusion on Mauricio Pochettino’s 26-man United States roster, and with good reason. His stellar exploits for Club América in Liga MX have not always translated to USMNT opportunities. Now, at 28 and coming off another outstanding season in Mexico, he is a solid sleeper pick as a potential World Cup breakout star for the U.S., and is determined to maximize an opportunity he feared may pass him by.His left foot, eye for goal and tactical versatility from several attacking positions make Zendejas a unique player on Pochettino’s team. Once thought to be out of the picture for this World Cup despite registering a key moment on the road to it, the Mexican-American dual national is now on the doorstep of the most important moment in his career.During the beginning of World Cup camp at U.S. Soccer’s new National Training Center, the Club América star admitted that he was living a dream. He expects to feel chills when the American national anthem plays on June 12 in Southern California for the U.S. opener against Paraguay. Zendejas, though, cannot believe that he’s in this position. And one can understand why. His international status has been anything but straightforward and a topic of vitriolic debate and controversy in Mexico.In the 2022 World Cup cycle, Zendejas was considered an attacking option for Mexico — despite his not being eligible to play without making a one-time FIFA switch (he had previously represented the U.S. at a U-17 World Cup, where he teamed with 2026 World Cup call-ups Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, Auston Trusty and Haji Wright). Nevertheless, Zendejas played on for El Tri, but he did not perform well in friendlies under manager Tata Martino, who accused Zendejas of attempting to secure a place on Mexico’s World Cup squad in exchange for international loyalty.It set off a massive saga in Mexico that stained the player’s reputation and ultimately resulted in Mexican federation sanctioning in the form of forfeits and fines. A World Cup future, for either of his two nations, seemed a distant possibility.“To be honest. I never if you would ask me this years ago, I would say, I probably wouldn’t be able to play in a World Cup,” Zendejas said. “But now it’s happening. I’m enjoying the moment.”He’s grateful for and humbled by the opportunity, one that’s been fully earned. Zendejas is a bonafide star in Mexico. He’s dangerous around the opponent’s goal and now a real wildcard for this U.S. team, one that has, at times, become far too predictable on matchday. In limited time off the bench Sunday vs. Senegal, he showcased his difference-making ability, pressing a Senegal defender into a turnover and then coasting in on goal on a breakaway, only to have his weaker-foot effort blocked by a last-ditch sliding challenge.A self-described goofball, the diminutive Zendejas comes across as down-to-earth and genuinely honored to be wearing the U.S. colors at what is arguably most important time in American soccer history. But make no mistake: he is accustomed to performing at his peak amid bright lights and pressure-filled football.“I’m trying to take it all in,” he said. “I still can’t believe it sometimes. There’s other media and they’re talking to my mom, interviewing her and stuff. Seeing her talk (about me)… it gets me, it gets me teary eyed for sure.”Amongst his teammates, Zendejas is a joy to be around. After the U.S. squad reveal, Pochettino praised Zendejas for his ability to form relationships with his teammates. The manager lauded his communication skills and hinted that he provides tactical wrinkles that could benefit the team.Asked what Pochettino’s words meant to him, Zendejas answered matter of factly. “It’s simple. It’s confidence,” he said. “Hearing that from a prestigious coach like Pochettino gives me confidence on and off the field. I’m just a goofy guy, man. I like to get along with everyone. And then it gives me that confidence to have fun and to show what I’m capable of doing.”Alejandro Zendejas presses and dribbles by the Senegal defense in Sunday’s 3-2 U.S. win (Cory Knowlton / ISI Photos / Getty Images)U.S. midfielder Cristian Roldan agreed.“I think the world of him as a person,” Roldan said. “As a player, he has something that’s different, that’s unique. His technical ability, his final product, we see that out in training every time we’re with him.”So much is made of American players in Europe. It’s the pinnacle of the sport, of course, but making it in Mexico, at one of the most visible clubs in the hemisphere, gives a U.S. national team player another level of clout. And while earning his stripes in Liga MX, it looked as though Zendejas had secured his spot in Pochettino’s good graces after a solid performance against Japan last September. His goal, a well-taken volley to open the scoring in the U.S.’s 2-0 win, offered a glimpse of his abilities. It also was a turning point for a team that was coming off a bad loss to South Korea following defeat in the Concacaf Gold Cup final to Mexico.“He was killing it, to be fair to him,” Roldan said. “He was doing his thing (in Mexico). After Japan, where he scored the goal, it’s unfortunate he gets hurt in the next camp. So credit to him for again, probably having a little bit of doubt in his mind, but playing well, and continuing to play well, and probably (being) one of the best players in Mexico this year. I’m really happy for him, in particular. He deserves it.“We joked around about his number being No. 26 because, much like him, we were probably one of the later guys on the roster. We kind of share that sentiment together.”He may have been the 26th player chosen by Pochettino, and perhaps over Real Salt Lake’s Diego Luna. But the reality is that Zendejas wears the No. 10 shirt for Mexico’s most popular club. Scrutiny is part of his daily life. “The media in Mexico is crazy, man,” Zendejas said with a laugh. “I try not to get into it. I honestly don’t even like to listen to it.”If he were to listen to what is said about him, though, he’d probably be fine with it. Mexicans, especially Club América fans, consider Zendejas to be one of the league’s premier stars. He’s a hard-worker who appears to play with a chip on his shoulder.“It’s a privilege to be at that club. Not everyone gets to use that jersey,” Zendejas said. “And I think it’s the same thing over here. It’s a good pressure that we have and we just use it as motivation and bring what I’m doing at club level over here to international level, as well.”Zendejas may now star in Mexico, but he is a product of the MLS (FC Dallas) and U.S. Soccer youth systems. He played with Pulisic and Weston McKennie before either of them were internationally known players. In many ways, being back with the USMNT is like coming home and hanging out with his long-lost brothers. Antonee Robinson, one of Pochettino’s most important players, described Zendejas as “someone you want to fight for.”“Well, he definitely is a goofball, but you know, he’s just one of those guys with an infectious laugh,” Robinson said. “Everyone’s happy to be around him. He’s such a good guy. He’ll do anything for anyone.”A short video clip from U.S. World Cup camp showed the type of finishing skills Zendejas has.