Weston McKennie’s spectacular first-half strike helped Juventus clinch a crucial 2-1 victory in the first leg of its Champions League playoff against PSV on Tuesday. The USMNT midfielder smashed the ball home from the edge of the penalty area in the 34th minute to put his team in front as it bids to reach the round of 16 for the first time in three seasons.

That American was none other than Weston James Earl McKennie, the son of a U.S. Air Force officer, who spent a good portion of his early years growing up in Germany, where he honed his footballing prowess and even turned down a scholarship offer to play at the University of West Virginia. Surely he knew that his time to go pro was closing in fast.