Former U.S. men’s national team star Alexi Lalas believes Christian Pulisic can become the “greatest male American soccer player” of all time, but only if he delivers at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
As the captain and undisputed best player on the USMNT, Pulisic knows the pressure of leading America, both on and off the pitch. Yet wearing the Stars and Stripes’ armband at the World Cup, on home soil, is a new type of weight for the 27-year-old, one that could turn him into a legend.
“There’s no better way in polishing your brand than doing it at a home World Cup here,” Lalas, who played every minute for the USMNT at the 1994 World Cup, told the .
“It doesn’t matter where you play or the fame that you have, the money that you have; this is an opportunity in front of your home country to almost introduce or reintroduce yourself.
“So I think with Christian Pulisic, a lot of eyes will be on him and rightfully so. He is a star, obviously, already played in a World Cup, but this is a little different playing at home.
“I think as he continues on [he] will ultimately be looked at as, arguably, the greatest male American soccer player in history. That’s the trajectory he’s on.”
