Christian Pulisic poised to become greatest USMNT player at 2026 World Cup

Christian Pulisic has spent the better part of a decade being called the future of American soccer. At the 2026 World Cup, on home soil, the future has finally arrived.

The 27-year-old AC Milan winger and USMNT captain was named to the 26-man squad on May 26, 2026, and has already made his mark in the tournament. He registered an assist in the opening match against Paraguay, a performance that only added fuel to an argument that’s been building for years: Pulisic might be the greatest player the US men’s program has ever produced.

The case for Pulisic over Donovan

The statistical case is compelling. Pulisic became the fastest USMNT player to reach 50 goal contributions back in November 2024, a milestone that speaks to both his consistency and his longevity with the national team. He’s won four US Soccer Male Player of the Year awards, in 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023, tying him with Donovan for the most in the award’s history.

A calf injury and the drama it creates

A calf injury suffered during the tournament limited his participation in matches following the Paraguay opener, creating the kind of will-he-or-won’t-he tension that American soccer fans know all too well.

Off the pitch, Pulisic is already a different animal

The commercial profile tells its own story. Pulisic signed a long-term sponsorship deal with Puma in 2021, and he’s appeared in Visa marketing campaigns tied to the World Cup. In the digital collectibles space, his most notable blockchain connection is through Panini’s Serie A Select NFT trading card series, a tie-in that comes from his club career at AC Milan rather than any proactive move into the crypto ecosystem.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.