Christian Pulisic facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Christian Pulisic

Pulisic with the United States at the 2022 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name	Christian Mate Pulisic
Date of birth	(1998-09-18) September 18, 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth	Hershey, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s)	Winger attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team	AC Milan
Number	11
Youth career
2005–2006	Brackley Town
2006–2007	Michigan Rush
2008–2015	PA Classics
2015–2016	Borussia Dortmund
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2016–2019	Borussia Dortmund	81	(10)
2019–2023	Chelsea	98	(20)
2019	→ Borussia Dortmund (loan)	9	(3)
2023–	AC Milan	70	(23)
International career‡
2012–2013	United States U15	10	(2)
2013–2015	United States U17	34	(20)
2016–	United States	78	(32)
Medal record Men's soccer Representing  United States CONCACAF Nations League Winner 2021 Winner 2023 Winner 2024 CONCACAF Gold Cup Runner-up 2019
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 08:21, 25 May 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of March 23, 2025

Christian Mate Pulisic (born September 18, 1998) is an American professional soccer player. He plays as a winger or attacking midfielder for the Italian club AC Milan. He also plays for the United States national team. Many people think he is one of the best North American players ever. Fans call him "Captain America" because of his amazing skills. He is known for his great dribbling, direct play, and helping his teammates score.

Christian grew up in Hershey, Pennsylvania. He started his professional career at Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund in Germany. He quickly moved up through their youth teams. He played only 15 youth games before joining the main team in January 2016, when he was just 17. He played a little in his first season. But he became a key player in the next season, helping Dortmund win the 2016–17 DFB-Pokal (a big German cup). His strong performances made him runner-up for the 2018 Kopa Trophy. This award goes to the world's best player under 21.

In January 2019, Pulisic moved to Premier League club Chelsea in England. The transfer cost about $73 million (£57.6 million). This made him the most expensive North American player at that time. He started playing for Chelsea in the 2019–20 season. In the next season, he won the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League. He was the first American to play in a Champions League final. In the 2021–22 season, he won the 2021 UEFA Super Cup and the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup. Pulisic joined Serie A club AC Milan in Italy in June 2023. He started playing for them in the 2023–24 season and won the 2024–25 Supercoppa Italiana.

Pulisic played for the United States at the under-15 and under-17 levels. He made his debut for the senior national team in March 2016, also at age 17. He became the youngest player to be captain of the United States national team when he was 20. At the CONCACAF Gold Cup, Pulisic was named the best young player of the 2019 tournament. He helped the U.S. win the CONCACAF Nations League in 2021, 2023, and 2024. He was even named the best player of the 2023 tournament. He has won the U.S. Soccer Player of the Year award four times, tying the record with Landon Donovan. He is also the country's fifth-highest all-time leading goalscorer. Many see him as the "face" of American soccer.

Early Life and Soccer Start

Christian Pulisic was born in Hershey, Pennsylvania. He spent most of his childhood there. His parents, Kelley and Mark Pulisic, both played college soccer. His father also played professional indoor soccer and later became a coach. When Christian was growing up, his soccer hero was Luís Figo.

When he was seven, Pulisic lived in England for a year while his mom was teaching there. He started playing for a youth team called Brackley Town. Later, when his dad worked for an indoor soccer club in Michigan, Christian played for Michigan Rush.

Club Career Highlights

After his family moved back to Hershey, Pulisic played for a local club called PA Classics. He sometimes trained with a professional team, Harrisburg City Islanders. In 2010, he even had a five-day tryout at Chelsea's training center.

Joining Borussia Dortmund

Pulisic moved to Germany before he turned 16. He was able to play there at 16 instead of 18 because his grandfather was Croatian, which helped him get a European passport.

In February 2015, Borussia Dortmund signed Pulisic when he was 17. He first played for their U17 team, winning a championship. Then he moved up to the U19 team in summer 2015 and won another championship. He scored 10 goals and made 8 assists in just 15 games for Dortmund's youth teams. Because of this, he was asked to join the main team during the winter break.

First Season: 2015–16

In January 2016, Pulisic played well in friendly matches, scoring and assisting goals. He made his first Bundesliga (German league) appearance on January 30, 2016. He came into the game as a substitute. On February 18, he played his first UEFA Europa League game.

Pulisic started his first Bundesliga game on February 21. His coach, Thomas Tuchel, praised him, saying it showed how much they valued him as a full-time player.

He scored his first Bundesliga goal for Borussia Dortmund on April 17. This made him the youngest non-German player to score in the Bundesliga. He was 17 years and 212 days old. A few days later, he scored another goal, becoming the youngest player to score two goals in the league.

Winning the DFB-Pokal: 2016–19

Pulisic training with Borussia Dortmund in Switzerland

In his second year, Pulisic became Dortmund's youngest player to play in the UEFA Champions League. The next weekend, he scored his first goal of the season and made two assists. This happened just before his 18th birthday.

On January 23, 2017, Pulisic signed a new contract with Dortmund until 2020. On March 8, 2017, he scored his first Champions League goal. This made him Dortmund's youngest scorer in that competition. He also helped set up another goal, helping Dortmund reach the quarter-finals. On August 5, 2017, Pulisic scored the first goal in the 2017 DFL-Supercup against Bayern Munich.

Moving to Chelsea

On January 2, 2019, Pulisic signed with Premier League club Chelsea for about £58 million. He stayed at Dortmund on loan for the rest of the 2018–19 season. This transfer made him the most expensive American player ever. When he arrived at Chelsea, he said he wanted to play like Eden Hazard, who was his soccer idol.

First Season at Chelsea: 2019–20

Pulisic (with Jamie Vardy) during a game against Leicester City in August 2019

Pulisic played his first Premier League game for Chelsea on August 11, 2019. He scored his first goals for Chelsea on October 26, 2019, scoring three goals (a "perfect" hat-trick) in a 4–2 win against Burnley. This was his first hat-trick ever. He became the second American to score a hat-trick in the Premier League. He was also Chelsea's youngest player to score a hat-trick.

He scored in his next two league games as well. On October 23, 2019, he came on as a substitute in a Champions League match and helped set up a late winning goal. He scored his first Champions League goal for Chelsea on November 27.

When the Premier League started again after the COVID-19 lockdown, Pulisic had recovered from an injury. He came off the bench to score a goal in Chelsea's 2–1 win against Aston Villa. In the next game, he scored the first goal in Chelsea's 2–1 win over Manchester City. This win helped Liverpool become Premier League champions. On August 1, he scored the first goal in the 2020 FA Cup Final against Arsenal. He was the first American to score in that final. However, he got injured and had to leave the game early. Arsenal won the match 2–1.

Pulisic finished the season with 11 goals and 10 assists.

Champions League Victory: 2020–21

Pulisic (right) with Chelsea in December 2021

For his second season at Chelsea, Pulisic was given the number 10 shirt. He returned to training after his hamstring injury. He made his season debut on October 3. On October 28, Pulisic came off the bench to score a goal in a Champions League win. On December 5, he scored a goal against Leeds United. This made him the fastest American to reach 10 goals in the Premier League.

On April 3, 2021, Pulisic scored a goal in a league game. A week later, he scored two goals against Crystal Palace. On April 27, Pulisic scored Chelsea's only goal in a 1–1 draw against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals. He was the youngest Chelsea player and first American to score in the Champions League semi-finals. In the second game, Pulisic came on as a substitute and helped set up a goal that sent Chelsea to the final. On May 29, Pulisic won his first Champions League title when Chelsea beat Manchester City 1–0 in the final. He became the first American to play in a Champions League Final.

Super Cup and Club World Cup: 2021–23

Pulisic (middle) during the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup final

On August 11, 2021, Pulisic won the 2021 UEFA Super Cup and scored in the penalty shootout. Three days later, he scored in Chelsea's first game of the 2021–22 Premier League season. He then got COVID-19 and later an ankle injury, which kept him out until November. On January 2, 2022, he scored a goal in a 2–2 draw against Liverpool. He also helped Chelsea win the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup Final by coming on as a substitute. He scored in both games of Chelsea's Champions League round of 16 tie against Lille.

On October 8, 2022, Pulisic scored in his first start under new Chelsea manager Graham Potter. He played less often during the 2022–23 season. Many thought he would leave the club before his contract ended in 2024.

Joining AC Milan

On July 13, 2023, Pulisic moved to Serie A club AC Milan in Italy. He signed a four-year contract and was given the number 11 shirt. The transfer was worth up to €22 million.

Strong Start in Italy: 2023–24

On August 21, Pulisic played his first Serie A game for Milan. He scored the team's second goal in a 2–0 win. This made him the first American to score a goal in three of Europe's top five leagues. In the next game, he scored the first goal in Milan's 4–1 win. He was named the club's Player of the Month for August. On October 7, Pulisic scored a winning goal in the last minute against Genoa. On December 2, he scored his fifth league goal. On December 13, he scored his first Champions League goal with Milan. This goal helped his team stay in European competitions. On December 30, he scored in a 1–0 win. This broke the record for most Serie A goals (6) by an American player in one season. He was named Serie A Player of the Month for December.

On February 18, 2024, he came off the bench and scored a goal and an assist. On March 7 and 14, Pulisic scored in both games against Slavia Prague in the Europa League. These were his first Europa League goals. Three days later, on March 17, he scored his 12th goal of the season. This was the first time he reached 12 goals in a single season. This goal was also AC Milan's 5000th goal in Serie A history. On April 6, he scored his 10th Serie A goal, breaking his personal record for league goals in a season. On May 11, Pulisic scored two goals in a 5–1 win.

After his first Serie A season, he was seen as one of the best new players in the league. He had 15 goals and 10 assists across all competitions. He was also named to the 2023–24 Serie A Team of the Season.

Continued Success: 2024–25

Pulisic playing for Milan during the 2024-25 Serie A season

On August 24, 2024, he scored his first goal of the 2024–25 Serie A season. On September 14, he had an assist and scored a penalty goal. In Milan's first Champions League game on September 17, he scored the first goal. In the next game on September 22, he scored the first goal in a win against rivals Inter. On September 27, he scored in his fourth straight club game. On October 6, he scored a volley goal. During that game, his teammates took two penalties from him, which made his coach angry. The coach said Pulisic should always take penalties. Pulisic became the first player from a top European league to help score a goal in seven league games in a row. On October 22, he scored a rare "Olimpico goal" (a goal directly from a corner kick) in a Champions League win. On November 5, he assisted a goal in another Champions League win.

On January 6, 2025, Pulisic won the 2024–25 Supercoppa Italiana against rivals Inter Milan. He scored the tying goal and made a key pass for the winning goal. This was his first trophy with AC Milan. He was also the joint-top goalscorer in the tournament. His goal made him the first American player in a top European league to score double-digit goals in two seasons in a row. On February 22, he missed a penalty kick for the first time in his career. On March 8, he scored two goals in a comeback win, including the winning penalty. On April 27, he scored against Venezia, breaking his highest scoring season record with 16 goals.

He finished the season as AC Milan's top scorer with 17 goals and 10 assists. He had the second-highest number of league assists in Serie A.

Pulisic was named to the 2024–25 Serie A Team of the Season for the second year in a row.

Playing for the United States

Youth Teams: 2012–2015

Pulisic played for the United States U-15 and U-17 teams. He scored two goals in 10 games for the U-15 team. In 2013, he scored a goal in a championship game against Brazil for the U-17 team. He was the captain of the U-17 team at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He scored a goal and an assist in three games there. He scored 20 goals in 34 games during his time with the U-17 team. Pulisic could have played for Croatia, but he chose to play for the United States.

Senior Team Debut and Records: 2016–2020

Pulisic taking a free kick against Trinidad and Tobago in June 2019

On March 27, 2016, Pulisic was called up to the senior national team. Two days later, he made his debut in a World Cup qualifying game. He became the youngest American to play in a World Cup qualifier.

He was part of the team for the Copa América Centenario tournament. A week later, he became the youngest player to score for the United States in the modern era.

On September 2, 2016, Pulisic scored two goals and made an assist in a World Cup qualifying game. This made him the youngest person to score in a World Cup qualifier for the U.S. and the youngest to score two goals in a game. In the next game, he became the youngest American to start a World Cup qualifying match. In 2017, he scored two goals against Trinidad and Tobago. He finished the qualifying round as the top scorer with five goals. However, the United States did not qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

On November 20, 2018, Pulisic became the youngest player to be captain of the United States national team. He was 20 years and 63 days old.

On March 26, 2019, Christian Pulisic became the youngest U.S. player to score 10 international goals.

CONCACAF Wins and World Cup: 2021–Present

On June 6, 2021, Pulisic was captain when the United States won the first-ever CONCACAF Nations League final against Mexico. He scored the winning goal from a penalty kick.

Pulisic at the 2022 FIFA World Cup against Wales

On March 27, 2022, Pulisic scored his first international hat-trick for the U.S. team during a World Cup qualifying win against Panama.

At the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Pulisic helped Tim Weah score the team's first goal. He won the "Man of the Match" award for his strong play in a 0–0 draw against England. In the next game, Pulisic won another "Man of the Match" award after scoring the winning goal against Iran. This win sent his team to the knockout rounds. In the Round of 16, he assisted a goal against the Netherlands, but the U.S. lost 3–1. Pulisic received two "Man of the Match" awards in the tournament, which was the third highest number.

During the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals, Pulisic scored two goals against Mexico in the semi-finals and was named "Man of the Match." The United States then beat Canada 2–0 in the final, giving him his second Nations League trophy. He was named Player of the Tournament for the 2022–23 competition. In the next year's final, Pulisic was captain again as the U.S. beat Mexico 2–0 to win his third Nations League trophy in a row.

In the 2024 Copa América, he scored a goal and an assist in the first game against Bolivia and was named "Man of the Match." On November 18, he became the fastest U.S. player to have 50 goal contributions (goals plus assists).

Player Style

How He Plays

When Pulisic joined the Dortmund main team, his coach Thomas Tuchel noticed his speed, sharpness, strength, and smart decision-making. Tuchel said Pulisic was "very self-confident" and "doesn't show any nerves under pressure." His teammate Nuri Şahin said, "He's fearless... He has so much speed, but what I like most is his first touch." Pulisic often plays on the wing for Dortmund, Chelsea, and AC Milan. He is often fouled by opposing players because of his playing style.

In July 2020, Chelsea manager Frank Lampard compared Pulisic to former Chelsea winger Eden Hazard. Lampard said Pulisic "has a more direct attacking instinct" and "has the talent to pass through defenders and run inside the box."

At Milan, Pulisic usually plays on the right wing. But if Rafael Leão is not playing, Pulisic sometimes plays on the left wing, which he prefers. Milan manager Stefano Pioli has praised Pulisic, saying he has "quality, intensity and willingness" and "He’s scoring a lot, too, which isn’t always easy for a winger.” Pulisic also often plays as a central attacking midfielder, helping to create plays.

What People Think of Him

Since he was young, Pulisic has been compared to U.S. soccer legends Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey. Many wonder if he will become the greatest American player ever. In his early years at Borussia Dortmund, he was seen as one of the world's best young players. He was a finalist for the 2017 Golden Boy award and runner-up for the 2018 Kopa Trophy (which Kylian Mbappé won). During his time at Chelsea, some people worried about him getting injured often.

After moving to AC Milan, Pulisic started playing very well again. He is now seen as one of the best players in the Italian Serie A and one of AC Milan's most important players. He is also considered one of the two best active players from the CONCACAF region, along with Alphonso Davies.

About Christian's Life

Christian Pulisic's last name can be said in two ways, and he says both are fine. Because he is the captain of the U.S. national team and plays at a high level, fans call him "Captain America". He has also been called "The LeBron James of Soccer" because of a funny video clip.

Pulisic's grandfather was born in Croatia. Pulisic got Croatian citizenship when he moved to Germany. This helped him get a work permit without needing a special German visa. Christian has a cousin, Will Pulisic, who also plays soccer.

Pulisic is Catholic and has shared Bible verses on social media.

Outside of soccer, Pulisic likes the New York Jets (football), New York Rangers (hockey), and Philadelphia 76ers (basketball). He also loves Ford Mustang cars.

In 2021, Pulisic signed a long-term deal with the sports brand Puma. On October 11, 2022, he released his autobiography called Pulisic: My Journey So Far. In the book, he shared that he struggled with depression when he was injured in 2020 and when he didn't play much. In June 2024, CBS Sports announced they were making a TV series about Pulisic's life and career.

Career Stats

Club Games

International Games

United States score listed first, score column indicates score after each Pulisic goal.

List of international goals scored by Christian Pulisic

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	May 28, 2016	Children's Mercy Park, Kansas City, United States	3	Bolivia	4–0	4–0	Friendly
2	September 2, 2016	Arnos Vale Stadium, Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	7	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	4–0	6–0	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
3					6–0
4	March 24, 2017	Avaya Stadium, San Jose, United States	12	Honduras	4–0	6–0	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
5	June 3, 2017	Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, United States	14	Venezuela	1–1	1–1	Friendly
6	June 8, 2017	Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, United States	15	Trinidad and Tobago	1–0	2–0	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
7					2–0
8	October 6, 2017	Orlando City Stadium, Orlando, United States	19	Panama	1–0	4–0	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
9	October 10, 2017	Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, Trinidad and Tobago	20	Trinidad and Tobago	1–2	1–2	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
10	March 26, 2019	BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, United States	25	Chile	1–0	1–1	Friendly
11	June 22, 2019	FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, United States	27	Trinidad and Tobago	4–0	6–0	2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup
12	July 3, 2019	Nissan Stadium, Nashville, United States	30	Jamaica	2–0	3–1	2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup
13					3–1
14	October 11, 2019	Audi Field, Washington, United States	33	Cuba	7–0	7–0	2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League A
15	March 28, 2021	Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland	35	Northern Ireland	2–0	2–1	Friendly
16	June 6, 2021	Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, United States	38	Mexico	3–2	3–2 (aet)	2021 CONCACAF Nations League final
17	November 12, 2021	TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, United States	41	Mexico	1–0	2–0	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
18	February 2, 2022	Allianz Field, Saint Paul, United States	45	Honduras	3–0	3–0	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
19	March 27, 2022	Exploria Stadium, Orlando, United States	47	Panama	1–0	5–1	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
20					4–0
21					5–0
22	November 29, 2022	Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar	55	Iran	1–0	1–0	2022 FIFA World Cup
23	March 24, 2023	Kirani James Athletic Stadium, St. George's, Grenada	57	Grenada	5–1	7–1	2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League A
24	June 15, 2023	Allegiant Stadium, Paradise, United States	59	Mexico	1–0	3–0	2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals
25					2–0
26	September 9, 2023	CityPark, St. Louis, United States	61	Uzbekistan	3–0	3–0	Friendly
27	October 14, 2023	Pratt & Whitney Stadium, East Hartford, United States	63	Germany	1–0	1–3	Friendly
28	October 17, 2023	Geodis Park, Nashville, United States	64	Ghana	2–0	4–0	Friendly
29	June 12, 2024	Camping World Stadium Orlando, United States	68	Brazil	1–1	1–1	Friendly
30	June 23, 2024	AT&T Stadium, Arlington, United States	69	Bolivia	1–0	2–0	2024 Copa América
31	September 10, 2024	TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, United States	73	New Zealand	1–0	1–1	Friendly
32	November 18, 2024	CityPark, St. Louis, United States	76	Jamaica	1–0	4–2	2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League A

Awards and Achievements

Borussia Dortmund Youth Teams

• Under 17 Bundesliga: 2014–15
• Under 19 Bundesliga: 2015–16

Borussia Dortmund

• DFB-Pokal: 2016–17

Chelsea

• UEFA Champions League: 2020–21
• UEFA Super Cup: 2021
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2021

AC Milan

• Supercoppa Italiana: 2024–25

United States U17

• CONCACAF Under-17 Championship third place: 2015

United States National Team

• CONCACAF Nations League: 2019–20, 2022–23, 2023–24

Individual Awards

• UEFA Champions League Breakthrough XI: 2016
• U.S. Soccer Young Male Player of the Year: 2016
• U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year: 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023
• Fútbol de Primera Player of the Year: 2017
• Kopa Trophy runner-up: 2018
• IFFHS Men's CONCACAF Team: 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024
• CONCACAF Best XI: 2017, 2021
• CONCACAF Gold Cup Best Young Player: 2019
• CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI: 2019
• CONCACAF Nations League Player of the Tournament: 2022–23
• CONCACAF Nations League Finals Best XI: 2021, 2023, 2024
• Serie A Player of the Month: December 2023
• Serie A Team of the Season: 2023–24, 2024–25
• AC Milan Player of the Month: August 2023, September 2024, January 2025
• AC Milan Gentleman Award: 2023–24
• AC Milan Top Scorer: 2024–25
• ESPY Awards – Best Soccer Player: 2025

See also

In Spanish: Christian Pulisic para niños