The winger is scoring goals for fun, but can Pulisic become America’s first ‘World-Class’ men's player?
The term "World-Class" is an overused phrase in soccer, because the reality is this: everyone has a different definition. So right from the start, we're going to lay down a marker and explain how we define World-Class.
It means that a player is considered among the top handful in his main position in the global game. It means the player is producing regularly and consistently, not just in occasional bunches. And it means that any elite team in the world would look at the player's profile and think, "Wow, we'd be lucky to have him."
No American male has reached World-Class status. A few have approached the precipice, to be fair. Tim Howard, Clint Dempsey, Brad Friedel – they were arguably the closest to reach that status, but even the U.S. men's national team's most decorated stars have been at a level just below the World-Class level.
So the provocative question is this: Can that change this season?
Once mired on the bench at Chelsea, Christian Pulisic has rapidly become prolific for AC Milan. If he continues the way he's started, will we look back at the 2024-25 campaign as the one in which the USMNT's leader played himself into World-Class recognition? GOAL takes a look.
GettyPulisic's hot start
Granted, it's early. But Pulisic has set an incredible tone in the initial weeks of the 2024-25 season.
The American star has scored three goals so far, with the most recent coming in AC Milan's Champions League loss to Liverpool. That finish, in particular, was high-quality. After breaking through on the right, Pulisic had both the confidence and quality to slide a shot from a tight angle past Alisson, arguably the best goalkeeper in the world. Beating the Brazilian in that situation isn't easy, but Pulisic did it with style.
His first two goals came in Serie A, one against Parma and one against Venezia. You can also add in a goal against New Zealand while on USMNT duty during the September international break, too. For club and country, Pulisic is cooking.
To be sure, this could just be a very good run of form. It could be a hot start that, at some point, will be evened out by a dry spell. Then again, it could be something more – much more – and recent history gives reason to believe just that.
AdvertisementGettyStats on his side
Numbers don't tell the whole story, but it's worth stating that Pulisic's are pretty damn good.
Since he joined Milan at the start of the 2023-24 season, no player in Serie A has contributed to more goals than Pulisic. You read that correctly. During that time, he's scored 18 and set up a further 12, establishing himself as arguably the most dangerous player in Italy's top flight.
Now, that does come with a caveat. Serie A isn't the Serie A of the '90s. It is no longer the best league in the world. AC Milan is good but, based on the Champions League opener against Liverpool, far from great.
Nonetheless, Pulisic is putting up big numbers for an historic club, one that still could find itself in the Champions League knockouts despite Tuesday's rough start. He's doing it for a legendary team with wild expectations and a realistic dream of Serie A glory.
So that brings us back to the question: would that be enough to earn him the title of World-Class?
Getty Images SportThe beginnings of prime Pulisic
Just one day after scoring against Liverpool, Pulisic hit a milestone. Wednesday was his 26th birthday.
Data generally suggests that age 26 opens the window for attacking players to reach their prime. They aren't quite there yet, but it's when stars aggressively start the climb toward their peak. If history is any guide, that would indicate that we likely haven't seen the best of Pulisic yet.
Last season, of course, was his best campaign as a professional, at least from an individual perspective. He was one of only three Serie A players to record 15 goals and 10 assists in all competitions last season, joining Rafael Leao and Paulo Dybala. It was a demonstration of what Pulisic can be at his best – especially after several years at his worst with Chelsea.
The fact is this: Pulisic is still developing. His time spent at the bench at Chelsea certainly hardened his mentality, but the last year or so has shown that there are still features left to unlock. He's added both goals and assists to his game int he last year, and Milan have reason to believe he can add even more of both as they push for glory this season.
GettyThe closest Americans to World-Class
American stars have put together some spectacular campaigns at the highest levels of European soccer. There have been players that have been good enough to play in the world's best teams, but World-Class status? That's a difficult argument to make.
Dempsey was close during his time at Fulham but, due to his club situation, never quite got there. His time at Tottenham was too short to establish himself and, without the Champions League glory to back it up, it's hard to make that case for him. The eye test says he may have been there, but it's hard to go on just eyes.
Jozy Altidore, meanwhile, absolutely carved up the Eredivisie to the tune of 51 goals in two seasons, but that wasn't in an elite European league. Friedel and Howard had sustained Premier League runs, giving them the longevity and consistency needed, but there were always better goalkeepers. Landon Donovan is the American with the most pure talent, perhaps, but he rarely got to prove it during his loan spells in Europe.
For years, American soccer has sought after a World-Class star. Pulisic had those expectations thrust upon him at just 16. Is this the season in which he lives up to those aspirations, in full?
