We're only one game into the World Cup but one Leeds United star is already receiving a ton of praise.

"He has the heart of a lion," said United States centre-back Aaron Long of midfielder Tyler Adams - who is set to be the skipper of the USMNT in Qatar.

"I think he shows that everywhere he goes. He is a key, key part of this team for what he brings on the field and what he brings off the field. He is an amazing guy and an amazing player," via FOX Sports.

Leader. Powerhouse. Captain.

You'll struggle to run out of superlatives to describe the 23-year-old and that only goes to show just how good business it was to sign him during the summer transfer window.

No one could have predicted his impact, particularly given the sheer magnitude of the job at hand in replacing Kalvin Phillips at the base of the engine room.

He has, arguably, been the signing of the summer at Elland Road.

The American's performances for the inconsistent Yorkshiremen have already seen interest in his signature from the bigger teams in England, including Manchester United.

WhoScored currently ranks Adams as Jesse Marsch's eighth-best performer of players to have started ten or more matches but that doesn't paint the full picture.

He leads the squad for tackles with a whopping four per game, whilst he ranks third for key passes per game (1.2) and some of Leeds' top performances have come when he's excelled, such as against Chelsea earlier in the season.

Leeds stunned the London side with a 3-0 victory, and Adams was lauded as the "engine" and a "monster" for his involvement.

The USMNT enforcer only cost director of football Victor Orta and chairman Andrea Radrizzani £20m, over half of what they sold Phillips to defending champions Manchester City for.

With his stock set to rise at the World Cup, given just how crucial he appears to be for USA, it's clear that Leeds have hit the jackpot with the signing of Adams.

AND in other news, Orta could finally ditch Leeds' £13m flop in Jan swoop for 19 y/o “exciting prospect”...