Pulisic has long been the face of US soccer, but the stakes have never been this high.
Christian Pulisic does not have to be “the guy” this summer. At least, not in the same way as before. He’s not the scrawny 19-year-old who came so close to carrying the US to the World Cup in 2018, only to fall short to Trinidad & Tobago. He’s not the 24-year-old winger who could do nothing as a toothless US attack was dumped out of the Round of 16 to the Netherlands in Qatar.
No, a lot has changed for Pulisic and the United States. For years, the forward has been beaten and bruised leading the line for a largely unthreatening US side. He gets the physical treatment that stars can expect when they take the road in CONCACAF, ending up on the receiving end of some ridiculous challenges in Panama, Mexico, or anywhere else. In the Americas, the game plan for the US has been simple: take out Pulisic and you’ll have nothing to fear.
Now, there are actual options in attack. There’s a set number nine in Folarin Balogun, who has been on a tear in Ligue 1. The backups — yes, backups — are Ricardo Pepi and Haji Wright, who are crucial for PSV Eindhoven and Coventry City, respectively. Compare that to the unimpressive striker rotation in Qatar: Wright (then inexperienced and playing in Türkiye), Josh Sargent, and Jesús Ferreira. The three combined for one goal, a fluke from Wright.
Behind Balogun and next to Pulisic, there are options in Malik Tillman, Brenden Aaronson, Gio Reyna, and Alejandro Zendejas. Deeper in midfield, there is Weston McKennie, who is capable of playing a more advanced role as well. Wing-backs Timothy Weah and Sergiño Dest can move forward if needed. There is quality in this US team, especially in midfield and attack.
Almost every member of the squad has played in one of the world’s best leagues. Balogun, for instance, debuted for Arsenal and now plays with AS Monaco. He almost led an upset over eventual winners PSG in the Champions League knockouts. Looking through the US World Cup squad, you’ll see teams such as Juventus, Marseille, and Crystal Palace represented. All but seven members of the 26-man squad have tested themselves outside of the Americas.
None have been quite as accomplished as Pulisic. The Hershey, PA native started his career in Germany with giants Borussia Dortmund, where he debuted under Thomas Tuchel. After four seasons, Chelsea broke the bank (back when that still meant something) on the young American, paying a reported €64 million to secure his services in June 2019. Within two years, Pulisic would play an instrumental role in the Blues’ Champions League triumph.
Unfortunately for Pulisic and Chelsea, a move that promised so much yielded limited success. He struggled to stay healthy and, outside of his Champions League run in 2021, his reunion with Thomas Tuchel was frustrating. Chelsea’s increasingly chaotic strategy led to frequent coaching changes and signings, which didn’t exactly help. In July 2023, Milan offered an exit, and Pulisic took it, joining the Serie A giants for a reported €22 million.
The 27-year-old has just concluded his third season in Italy, with mixed results. Though naturally a winger, the American found himself in a more central role, which initially paid off. After scoring eight goals and assisting two in the first half of last season, Pulisic’s form nosedived. He has yet to score a goal at club level in 2026. Unsurprisingly, Milan collapsed and missed the Champions League, resulting in the sacking of manager Massimiliano Allegri.
Which brings us to this summer: a crucial one for Pulisic’s legacy. At club level, he has promised so much but often failed to deliver on lofty expectations. He helped Chelsea win the Champions League, but so did Timo Werner and Kai Havertz. Pulisic has largely been impressive in Italy, but has lacked consistency and has done so on a Milan team that will not be remembered by many. At the moment, his legacy is not where it deserves to be.
Pulisic turns 28 in September, theoretically entering one of the last seasons of his prime. Make no mistake, he is a phenomenal player. He provided glimpses of hope as a teenager on what is likely the worst team in USMNT history, and has continued to do so for over a decade, dragging the US out of the depths and back into relevancy. Fans may remember Landon Donovan or Clint Dempsey fondly, but no American player has ever touched Pulisic in terms of ability.
This World Cup, hosted (partially) on US soil, is a chance for Pulisic to truly cement his legacy. There should be no illusions — the Americans will not win the tournament this summer. The team is simply not good enough, even with home-field advantage. Compare Mauricio Pochettino’s side to France, Spain, Germany, Argentina, and it’s obvious that it is not on the same level. Still, the US is more than capable of springing an upset or two and potentially making a deep run.
But while Balogun, Tillman, and others are more than capable of chipping in, the burden still lies on Pulisic. He does not have to be “the guy” with these other stars around him. They will all make his life easier. At the end of the day, though, this is Pulisic’s team, and, win or lose, fans, both at home and abroad, will cite the 27-year-old as the reason why. He became the face of US soccer when he debuted in 2016 and has been ever since.
Pulisic has never fully been appreciated abroad, in part because of the tendency to overrate him in his home country. He is not the LeBron James of soccer, nor is he deserving of the comparisons to Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi that Carli Lloyd made. Pulisic is, however, a remarkable player, and that deserves to be known. This summer is the biggest chance he’ll ever get to show it.
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Image via @USMNT (X).
