(NEXSTAR) -- At just 25 years old, Brendan Aaronson is already a veteran with 55 appearances and nine goals for the U.S. Men's National Team. Still, the Leeds United man is competing for a spot on the final 26-player roster as the 2026 World Cup approaches in North America. The Medford, New Jersey, native was a 2022 World Cup team member and currently plays in the English Premier League. Aaronson, colloquially known as the "Medford Messi," began his professional career with the Philadelphia Union in 2019 before moving to Europe to play in Austria and England. Aaronson grew up in New Jersey watching the English Premier League with his father. "My earliest memories of playing or even watching was my dad would have the Premier League on the TV," Aaronson said. "Then he'd get a ball out and I just remember going in the backyard and just playing with him." The midfielder has made a name for himself at the club level and on the national team, but putting on the Stars and Stripes kit gives him even more motivation. "Playing for the national team is playing for the name on the back of my kit, playing for my last name and playing for my family," Aaronson said. "I love representing this country and all. I love playing for the national team and then for club, my 'why,' is to be the best player that I can be. My drive to reach the highest and be the best player that I can." Aaronson maintains a close relationship with his younger brother, Paxton Aaronson, who also played for the Philadelphia Union. The siblings grew up playing one-on-one matches in their basement. "When we were training at such a young age together, it was always competitive, but in a healthy way," Aaronson said. "Sometimes we'd get a little bit feisty, but it was always healthy afterward. We were back to being best friends always after training." Away from the soccer field, Aaronson enjoys visiting record stores and eating at Riviera Pizza when he returns home to New Jersey. He acknowledged that his specific cheesesteak order, which includes lettuce on top of the sliced steak and cheese, is often debated by others. "I might get kind of slaughtered for this in a way I'm not sure. I like it with just the sliced steak and then the cheese on top, and then some lettuce, and then some ketchup," Aaronson said. "It's controversial stuff going on right now to be honest with you." Entering what many consider the prime of a professional career, Aaronson noted he is focused on continued development. "I've always been level headed the whole way and kind of just wanting to get better and better so I don't think I've reached my top yet or reached my prime so I think I'm still aiming for it," Aaronson said. World Cup broadcaster Bill McDermott, who won a national championship as a player at St. Louis University, considers Aaronson a "definite lock" for the upcoming roster. McDermott said that Aaronson is a competent and self-assured player who is known for his distribution and ability to maintain possession in the center of the field or on the flanks. Aaronson, who was once a runner-up for the MLS Rookie of the Year, has played in professional leagues across four different countries. After his 2019 debut in Major League Soccer, Aaronson moved to the Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg before joining Leeds United in 2022. His transfer to the English club involved a then-record $30 million fee. While he may not start every match, Aaronson is expected to be a primary option for the U.S. off the bench in the attacking third. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino is expected to announce the final 26-player roster on May 26. The U.S. will open its World Cup schedule against Paraguay on June 12 in Los Angeles, followed by a match against Australia on June 19 in Seattle. The U.S. will conclude the group stage on June 25 against the winner of UEFA Playoff C (Turkey, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo). All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by Nexstar. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by Nexstar staff before being published