There Are Actually Eight Heroes That Captain America Never Met In The MCU
The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to grow into an unstoppable, multi-headed hydra (pun intended). Since it kicked off in 2008, it quickly began expanding its roster of heroes and heroines. One of the film series' mainstays is Captain America, who's tied closely to a vast majority of his fellow crime-fighters. His work with the Howling Commandos, the Avengers, and S.H.I.E.L.D. established quite the social circle for Steve Rogers.
First introduced in 2011's Captain America: The First Avenger, Chris Evans brought the Star-Spangled Man to life in live-action for the first time in over two decades. He starred in a highly praised trilogy while also making time to appear in Avengers team-up movies as well. As a result, he has crossed paths with some of Marvel's biggest names — from Iron Man to Black Widow. Ultimately, Evans retired the character in 2019's Avengers: Endgame, leaving behind an unmatched legacy.
Although Cap worked alongside and even fought against an impressive roster of heroes during his tenure in the MCU, there's a handful he never got the chance to formally meet. While most were present during the epic final battle in Endgame, the situation didn't call for small talk. Therefore, a good chunk of the MCU roster didn't get to share a valuable moment with Captain America.
Disclaimer: This article discusses only the heroes Captain America never met in the MCU. His encounters within the Marvel comics are not discussed here.
Captain America never met the Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Strange
Doctor Stephen Strange made his MCU debut in 2016, with Benedict Cumberbatch as the Sorcerer Supreme. Since then, the character has appeared in three other franchise installments, two of which were Avengers movies. Interestingly, the Master of the Mystic Arts never crossed paths with Steve Rogers. He spent more time than he wanted to with Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), but the same can't be said for Captain America. Though both Cap and Doctor Strange engaged in the finale battle of Avengers: Endgame and attended Tony Stark's funeral at the end of the film, they didn't exchange any words. (Does it really count as "meeting" if you don't even say "hello"?)
Pondering what could have been, an alliance between the two could have made Earth's Mightiest Heroes even mightier. Both Strange and Rogers are no-nonsense on the battlefield and only have the best interest of their allies in mind. Their shared patience with Tony would ease both of their blood pressures, sharing the load of his snarkiness. Not to mention Strange was once in possession of the Time Stone, an artifact that could prove useful in catching Rogers up on world events.
Steve Rogers didn't reminisce with Star-Lord
Captain America only went to space once in his MCU lifetime, with the sole intention of taking out Thanos (Josh Brolin) once and for all. Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), on the other hand, made the galaxy his home after he was taken from Earth as a child. Despite both being a part of Avengers: Endgame's epic final battle, the two didn't get the chance to meet up. Given their very different personalities, their potential interactions could have been very interesting.
Rogers grew up in the early 20th century ... and then missed out on everything from the 1940s to the early 2010s. Quill was a kid at the end of the 1970s, and never returned home after his mother passed away. Both have a lot of catching up to do from their time away from humanity. Cap could have taught Quill about the modern day whilst being educated on the hit tunes of the '60s and '70s.
Captain America didn't get to learn from Gamora
One of the most difficult things about facing Thanos for the Avengers was that they didn't know much of anything about him. When it came to their previous foes, such as the baddie-turned-somewhat-goodie Loki (Tom Hiddleston) or the nefarious Ultron (James Spader), at least one member of the team understood them. The core six members, Captain America included, were in the dark about Thanos other than the fact that he wanted the Infinity Stones. Had Captain America been afforded the chance to speak with her, Gamora (Zoe Saldana) could have offered him — and the rest of the Avengers — some valuable information about Thanos, her adoptive father.
They wouldn't necessarily have become friends, as the adopted daughter of the Mad Titan is understandably secluded. To that same point, Gamora's hatred for Thanos runs deep, meaning she yearns to see him fail. Steve Rogers has the same goal in mind — and would have had it sooner had he known about Thanos before he actually became aware of him in the MCU. Gamora's insight could have been crucial to defeating Thanos — maybe even allowing the Avengers to prevent the Snap in the first place. But then we wouldn't have the Infinity Saga of the MCU, so it's a trade-off we're more than willing to make.
Cap never saw Drax in the MCU (because he stood so incredibly still)
As the final battle of Avengers: Endgame proved, Steve Rogers isn't a lone wolf in battle if he doesn't need to be — especially when his allies are as committed to the cause as he is. He's always looking for recruits to take up arms with him, especially when facing down Thanos and his legions of Chitauri and Outriders. In such a sticky situation, it's best to look to those who live for the thrill of battle. Enter Drax (Dave Bautista).
Though both men were in battle together, they never once spoke to one another. They fought for their lives, leaving no time to produce proper introductions. Had Drax and Cap met, it's feasible that they could have combined their efforts to defeat their common enemy. Drax isn't one for planning, but is more than willing to run headstrong into battle. Rogers, on the other hand, is a master military strategist and a worthy combatant in his own right. Together, they could have made a great duo.
In the MCU, Captain America didn't get to help out Mantis
One thing that Captain America is revered for is his acceptance of others no matter their differences. He's a beacon of kindness, compassion, and respect (so long as you're not a Nazi, of course). Following the death of her brother and her being labeled as a dangerous, destructive force, Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) was beginning to lose her way. Steve consoled her and helped her realize who she is, boosting her confidence. Could he have worked that same magic upon meeting another outsider, Mantis (Pom Klementieff)?
From the moment she appeared in 2017's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Mantis was characterized as a naive and insecure yet incredibly powerful being. She didn't have any positive reinforcement in life, as Ego the Living Planet (Kurt Russell) more or less used her to his gain. In the event Mantis met Captain America, he could have helped her overcome her shortcomings and blossom into a full-fledged person. He's just that kind of good guy. Plus, can you imagine the hilarious back-and-forth that could have happened between the two? Totally worth the cost of a $15 movie ticket.
Steve Rogers never got to clash heads with Yondu
Since he's from Earth and rarely ever left it, Captain America's sense of morality and survival were shaped in a very particular way. He believes in hard work, dedication, and doing the right thing no matter the cost. Had he gone to space and encountered the Ravagers, a group of criminals and mercenaries that abide only by the almighty dollar, he'd have been blown away — especially if he had encountered their leader, Yondu Udonta (Michael Rooker).
Steve Rogers is a morally upstanding man, hesitant to even swear well into his 70s. His squeaky-clean image is reflective of who he truly is — a man who will always do what's morally right and will never take the easy way out. Yondu isn't that man; he's quite the opposite. He's grimy, ruthless, and does whatever he has to for the sake of turning a profit. He may have a soft spot for Peter Quill, but it doesn't extend beyond him. Such is a Ravager's way of life — one that Captain America would certainly take reservation with.
Captain America never got to speak with Heimdall
One disadvantage of being Captain America in the MCU is an inability to travel the cosmos and get a sense of everything going on in the grander universe. This also applies to Asgard, a realm Cap understands almost completely through his Avengers teammate, Thor (Chris Hemsworth). Alternatively, when one is tasked with defending the Bifrost, there's little time to do much else. The Bifrost protector Heimdall (Idris Elba) didn't make it to Earth thanks to Thanos killing him in Avengers: Infinity War. If he had, some time spent with Cap could have proven highly valuable.
Both men are straightforward and only desire what's best for their people. Heimdall is all-seeing and all-hearing, meaning it's very difficult for an incoming threat to sneak past him. He could have been a great asset in alerting Earth of not only Loki's arrival but also Thanos' years later. From there, he and Cap could have worked together to thwart such attacks and save lives. They could have operated effectively in tandem, but sadly they were never to meet in the MCU.
Captain America missed his chance to share war stories with Valkyrie
In simplest terms, Captain America is a soldier, serving the United States to his last breath. He knows the sacrifices that are made on the battlefield and has a deep respect for anyone willing to go the distance. The Asgardian hero Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) is no different, facing unimaginable loss at the hands of Hela the Goddess of Death (Caet Blanchett), who annihilated her companions in battle. They both have felt such pain, and could have learned a great deal from one another had they been afforded time to talk.
Both Cap and Valkyrie are natural-born leaders, which could be a good or bad thing depending on the situation. Both are doers once motivated and will do everything in their power to do what's right. Not to mention their combined experience on the battlefield would help their cause greatly, allowing them to strategize and execute their plans to the best of their abilities. Thanos lost to them without either of them speaking to one another; just imagine if they were on the same page.