Christian Pulisic
The American winger who shattered the ceiling for U.S. soccer talent in Europe, becoming his country's most expensive export and a Champions League winner.
Born 1998 (age 28)·American soccer player·Birthday: September 18·Generation Z
Biography
Christian Pulisic didn't just arrive on the global soccer scene; he announced the arrival of a new generation of American player. Hailing from Hershey, Pennsylvania, he made the bold move to Borussia Dortmund's youth academy at 16, a pathway few Americans had successfully tread. His breakthrough in Germany was swift, his dribbling fearlessness and direct style earning him the nickname 'Captain America' from Dortmund fans. A high-profile transfer to Chelsea followed, where he became the most expensive American player ever. At Stamford Bridge, he scored crucial goals, including one in a Champions League semi-final, and lifted the Champions League trophy in 2021. Now leading the line for AC Milan and the U.S. national team, Pulisic carries the weight of expectation not just as a star, but as the standard-bearer for American soccer's potential on the world's biggest stages.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Christian was born in 1998, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Christian Was Born
The biggest hits of 1998
#1 Movie
Saving Private Ryan
Best Picture
Shakespeare in Love
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Christian's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1998Born
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2003Started school
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2011Became a teenager
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Could drive
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2016Could vote
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2019Turned 21
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 28 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea in the 2020-21 season.
- Became the most expensive North American footballer following his 2019 transfer from Borussia Dortmund to Chelsea.
- Scored a hat-trick for the United States in a World Cup qualifying match against Panama in 2021.
- Named U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year in 2017, 2019, and 2021.
Did You Know?
He lived in England as a young child for a year, which fueled his passion for the Premier League.
His parents were both college soccer players at George Mason University.
He holds a Croatian passport, which facilitated his move to Europe as a teenager.
“I don't want to be looked at as just an American player. I want to be world class.”
