About Christian Pulisic

Christian Pulisic is the wonder kid for United States soccer. First came Freddy Adu and then came Pulisic.

Pulisic currently plays for Serie A club AC Milan and the United States men’s national team. Over the past few years, he’s experienced success, injuries, and transfers.

In this article, I’ll illustrate his life the best as I can…

What Was Pulisic’s Childhood Like?

Christian Pulisic was born on September 18, 1998, in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

His parents, Mark and Kelley Pulisic, were both soccer players and coaches, which influenced Christian’s love for the sport from a young age.

At the age of seven, Christian’s family moved to England, where his mother played professional soccer for a team in London. Talk about great genes!

This experience exposed Christian to the high level of soccer played in Europe, and he began to dream of playing professionally himself.

When the Pulisic family returned to the United States, Christian joined the PA Classics, a youth soccer club based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

He quickly rose through the ranks and was eventually scouted by Borussia Dortmund, a top German soccer club.

At the age of 16, Pulisic moved to Germany to join Borussia Dortmund’s youth academy.

This was a challenging time for him, as he had to adjust to a new culture and language while also competing against some of the best young soccer players in the world.

However, Christian persevered and eventually made his debut for Borussia Dortmund’s first team in 2016.

Overall, Christian’s early life was defined by his passion for soccer and his family’s influence on his development as a player.

His experiences playing in both the United States and Europe helped shape him into the world-class player he is today.

Pulisic’s Professional Career

Christian Pulisic made his debut for Borussia Dortmund in January of 2016, coming on as a substitute.

He quickly established himself as a key player for Dortmund, scoring his first goal for the club in a Europa League match against FC Porto.

Over the next few seasons, Pulisic continued to impress the club, showcasing his speed, dribbling ability, and creativity on the ball.

He was a regular starter for the soccer club and helped them to finish in the top four of the Bundesliga in each of his three full seasons with the team.

In January 2019, Pulisic signed with Premier League club Chelsea for a fee of around £58 million.

He made his debut for the club in August of that year, coming on as a substitute in a league match against Manchester United.

Pulisic quickly became a fan favorite at Chelsea, with his dynamic attacking play and ability to create chances for his teammates.

In his first season with the club, Pulisic helped Chelsea to win the FA Cup and reach the final of the UEFA Champions League.

He scored a crucial goal in the semi-final of the Champions League against Real Madrid, helping Chelsea to secure their place in the final against Manchester City.

Pulisic finished the season with 11 goals and 4 assists in all competitions, establishing himself as one of the top young talents in the Premier League.

As quickly as he arose at Chelsea, he fell quicker. The passionate fans and club owners began to turn on him as he was hampered by injuries and poor performances.

Most recently, Pulisic signed with AC Milan on July 13, 2023. He is finding his footing as a playmaker on a talented squad. View his current stats.

What is Pulisic’s Playing Style?

Christian Pulisic is a dynamic player. He is known for his speed, dribbling ability, and technical skills, which have earned him comparisons to some of the game’s greatest players.

Pulisic is primarily a winger, but he is also comfortable playing as a central attacking midfielder or even as a striker.

His offensive versatility is one of his greatest strengths, as it allows him to adapt to different tactical systems and play styles.

One of the most notable aspects of Pulisic’s playing style is his pace. He is incredibly quick off the mark and can accelerate past defenders with ease.

This makes him a constant threat on the counter-attack, as he can quickly transition from defense to attack and create scoring opportunities for himself or his teammates.

In addition to his speed, Pulisic is also an excellent dribbler. Standing at 5’10”, he has a low center of gravity and can change direction quickly, making him difficult to defend against.

Lastly, he has excellent ball control and can keep the ball close to his feet even when under pressure. This allows him to create space for himself and his teammates, as well as to take on defenders one-on-one.

What Are Pulisic’s Achievements and Awards?

Throughout his career, he has amassed several impressive achievements and awards. Here they are…

Club Achievements

During his time with Borussia Dortmund, he helped them to win the DFL-Supercup in 2019 and the DFB-Pokal in 2017.

He also played a key role in Dortmund’s run to the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals in the 2016-2017 season.

In his first season with Chelsea, he helped them to win the UEFA Europa League and finish in the top four of the Premier League.

Individual Awards

Pulisic has also received several individual awards throughout his career. In 2017, he was named the U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year, becoming the youngest player ever to receive the award. He won the award again in 2019, 2021, and 2023.

In addition, Pulisic has been named to the Bundesliga Team of the Season twice (2017-2018, 2018-2019) and the UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season once (2018-2019).

USMNT Achievements

Pulisic has been a key member of the United States men’s national team since he made his debut in 2016.

He played a vital role in the team’s successful run to the CONCACAF Nations League title in 2019-2020, scoring in both the semifinals and the final.

Pulisic also had a great showing at the 2022 World Cup where he scored once and assisted twice. He led the young USMNT to the round of 16 and they eventually lost to a strong Netherlands team.

I’m eager to see how he does in the 2026 World Cup where he will be on his home turf!

7 Interesting Facts About Christian Pulisic

Here are seven interesting facts you may not know about Christian Pulisic:

1. Born in Pennsylvania: Pulisic was born on September 18, 1998, in Hershey, Pennsylvania. He grew up playing soccer and was part of the youth academy at the local club PA Classics.
2. Youngest U.S. Men’s National Team Captain: In 2018, at the age of 20, Pulisic became the youngest captain in the history of the U.S. Men’s National Team. He captained the team in a friendly against Italy.
3. Moved to Germany at age 16: In 2015, Pulisic moved to Germany to join the youth academy at Borussia Dortmund. He made his first team debut for the club in January 2016, becoming the youngest non-German to score a goal in the Bundesliga.
4. Record transfer fee for an American player: In January 2019, Pulisic signed with English club Chelsea for a transfer fee of $73 million, making him the most expensive American soccer player in history.
5. Dual citizenship: Pulisic holds both American and Croatian citizenship. His grandfather was Croatian, which allowed him to obtain Croatian citizenship and play for the Croatian national team if he chose to do so.
6. Named U.S. Soccer Male Athlete of the Year: Pulisic has won the U.S. Soccer Male Athlete of the Year award four times.
7. Parents are elite athletes: The Pulisics played soccer at George Mason University. Mark Pulisic (father), was the head coach of the Detroit Ignition of the MLS.