Christian Pulisic: A Trailblazer in American Soccer

Few American athletes have the same opportunities as Christian Pulisic, whose journey in soccer stands apart from the more common pursuits of basketball or baseball among U.S. youth. With a divergence from the norm, Pulisic has consistently demonstrated his unique talent.

His family relocated to the United Kingdom during his formative years, where he explored his passion for soccer, even taking brief visits to Chelsea’s academy. There, he encountered future teammate Mason Mount before making a professional move to Stamford Bridge in 2019.

Pulisic made history as a Champions League winner with Chelsea but continued to evolve his career by joining AC Milan in 2023. Since arriving at the San Siro, he has experienced a revitalization and embraced the role of a club talisman, setting personal bests in goal-scoring. Despite facing injury challenges in the 2025-26 season, Pulisic has remained a beacon of consistency when on the field.

Glenn Crooks, a respected commentator and coach from the New York and New Jersey area, who has closely monitored Pulisic’s growth since his youth, shared insights on why the 27-year-old continues to set a high standard for American soccer players.

“You could almost say definitively that Pulisic is the best player at Milan right now. I think injuries have curtailed his progress, and you want to knock on every piece of wood that you have right now, because he’s been able to perform consistently now at Milan. We’d have seen this a couple of years ago if his coaches had given him more of an opportunity.

“He’s had to become physically stronger and put in a lot of fitness and strength work. He’s grown immensely as a player, as a leader, and in understanding his role on the pitch—knowing when to dribble, when to pass, and finishing. Not everyone has the knack for finishing, but he has become an exceptional finisher, which is truly wonderful to witness, especially considering how it all began in a less-structured environment.

“His development started when his mother took him to England at the ages of 7 to 9 while she was teaching at a prep school. He was simply playing pick-up soccer without being on any organized teams. If you look at the five best attacking players of all time, all have street soccer in their background. That’s how they started, and that’s one area where we still lag behind other countries. If you were to rank the top 150 players in the world, there would be just one American: Pulisic.”

AC Milan recognizes the extraordinary talent they have in Pulisic and are understandably hesitant to part ways with him. However, the delay in signing a new contract has led to ongoing speculation about his future. The club remains optimistic about negotiating fresh terms, yet there is considerable interest from Premier League teams, indicating that Pulisic’s skills are once again attracting attention from top-tier recruitment.