LA Galaxy Without Star Forward Against Houston Dynamo This Weekend | OneFootball

In the last few games, the Los Angeles Galaxy have been without one of the forwards. Young, Brazilian scorer Matheus Nascimento not only sat out against the Colorado Rapids last month, but he also missed the Third-Place Match of the 2025 Leagues Cup against Orlando City SC.

The LA Galaxy play the Houston Dynamo on Saturday. While it remains to be seen if Nascimento will return on for the LA Galaxy's next match, the defending MLS Cup champions will be without another key star.

Forward Joseph Paintsil was recently called up to Ghana's National Team. His native country is looking to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

According to the LA Galaxy's team site, Paintsil "has been called up by the national team for Ghana for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Chad on Thursday, Sept. 4 (6:00 a.m. PT) and Mali on Monday, Sept. 8 (12:00 p.m. PT)."

Head coach for the LA Galaxy, Greg Vanney, could elect to use Miguel Berry or Tucker Lepley up top, again. Vanney has been creative with his forwards in the often-used 4-2-3-1 formation.

What forward Joseph Paintsil means to the LA Galaxy

The past two months, Paintsil has been big for the team's offense. In July and August, the LA Galaxy star has combined for four goals.

Two of those came as the lone scores in the loses to Inter Miami (3-1) and Austin FC (2-1). Those goals were just during the MLS regular-season games as Paintsil played strong during the League Cup tournament.

Players like Gabriel Pec and four-time Player of the Month for the LA Galaxy, Marco Reus, must step up in Paintsil's absense.

The 27-year-old athlete scored four times during the tournament. He found the back of the net twice in the opening match against Club Tijuana.

Paintsil's goal in the Third-Place Match is the reason why the LA Galaxy won and now have a berth in next year's CONCACAF Champions Cup Tournament. He missed the two games in the Round of 16 against Herediano but made good during the pair of matches against Tigres UANL.

LA Galaxy v Seattle Sounders - Leagues Cup Semifinal | Ronald Martinez/GettyImages

Paintsil scored in the 3-2 loss that saw the LA Galaxy get bounced from this year's CONCACAF Champions Cup bracket.

The LA Galaxy remain at the bottom of the MLS Western Conference. However, they have a winning record between the CONCACAF Champions Cup and the Leagues Cup tournaments this year.

Paintsil could be back when the LA Galaxy play the Seattle Sounders FC next weekend. That match is on the road, just like Saturday's contest against the Dynamo.