Gimenez and Pulisic: Friends Off the Field, Rivals On It

Gimenez, currently recovering from an ankle injury, transferred to AC Milan in February 2025 from Feyenoord, marking a significant financial move. At that time, Pulisic was already making waves as a star player for the Rossoneri.

The United States international, who joined Milan in 2023, has been achieving personal bests in his performances. Notably, his goal tally has surpassed that of his teammate Gimenez, despite the latter’s role as a deep-lying forward.

As fellow players from the Americas, Pulisic and Gimenez have formed a close bond over the past year. They enjoy each other’s company off the pitch, sharing moments as they reminisce about home and their respective football journeys.

However, their friendly rapport will be set aside when they potentially meet at the upcoming World Cup, which will take place on U.S. and Mexican soil this summer.

Discussing their relationship, Gimenez stated in an interview with ESPN: “If we play a game for our countries, we are enemies, we are rivals. But in the dressing room, he’s one of my best friends. We spend a lot of time together, and I hope, if he’s not playing against Mexico, that he performs well. But if he is playing against Mexico, of course, if I need to defeat him, I will!”

He continued, “He has been a great friend during my injury rehabilitation. We share many interests, including our passion for the NFL—he supports the Jets while I back the Dolphins. Sometimes, I visit his house for barbecues and to watch NFL games. He’s an excellent teammate and a good friend, but ultimately, when he dons the USA jersey, he becomes a rival.”

When asked about the ongoing debate regarding which national team is superior—Mexico or the U.S.—Gimenez remarked, “This is always a topic of conversation in the dressing room. We joke around or ask, ‘Who’s better, USA or Mexico?’ I usually say Mexico while Pulisic pushes for the U.S., leading to a playful rivalry, but it’s all in good fun.”

Both Mexico and the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) have high expectations heading into the major tournament on home soil. Gimenez expressed optimism, stating, “Playing a World Cup in your own country is an incredible experience, and we have the chance to do just that. Our families will be there—it’s our people, our stadium, our country, and we must be strong. I believe the U.S. has a formidable national team that could potentially reach the quarter-finals. I would love to play against the USA in the World Cup because of the excitement that such a rivalry brings to the fans.”

Reflecting on their recent Gold Cup victory, Gimenez declared, “Winning the Gold Cup last year was fantastic, as our rivalry has deep roots and continues to thrive. I know the fans relish the opportunity to defeat the USA, so we were thrilled to secure that win against them.”

Mexico has been placed in Group A for the 2026 World Cup, starting their campaign against South Africa on June 11 at the iconic Azteca Stadium, followed by matches against South Korea and a UEFA playoff winner.

The U.S., led by Pulisic, is in Group D and will begin their journey at SoFi Stadium in California against Paraguay on June 12, before heading to Seattle for a clash with Australia and returning to Los Angeles for another match against a European playoff winner.