​The World Cup has ended for the USMNT after their defeat to Belgium on Monday. Many supporters had hoped to see Christian Pulisic shine at this summer’s tournament, but the week(s) turned out to be somewhat underwhelming for the forward. Pulisic played four times in the tournament, yet he managed only one assist across those appearances.
Folarin Balogun and Malik Tillman emerged as the true standouts for Mauricio Pochettino, combining for five goals between them. With disappointment surrounding the 27-year-old’s performances, NFL fans have been weighing in on what NFL players Pulisic might resemble. A photo captioned from the event shows Pulisic amid the action, underscoring the debate about his form.
It’s worth noting that Pulisic battled an injury throughout the tournament, which caused him to miss the group-stage match against Australia. Still, many fans viewed his display as underwhelming, given the high expectations placed on their leading figure, often dubbed “Captain America.”
On X (formerly Twitter), former NFL Network sportscaster Lindsay Rhodes sparked discussion by asking whom Pulisic resembles in NFL terms. One reply described the comparison as Kyler Murray or JJ McCarthy, calling them overrated and prone to shrinking in big moments. Another fan joined the quarterback theme, suggesting Justin Herbert—“Always expecting more, but that’s who he is, and that’s OK.” Yet another user posted a GIF of Tua Tagovailoa, remarking that Pulisic is “Always hurt, overhyped, and pretty much just an OK player when it’s all said and done.”
Pulisic remains the USMNT’s top earner, with Weston McKennie ranking second in earnings. Moving away from the quarterback analogy, a commenter likened Pulisic to former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, describing him as having “unreal hype, little production,” and noting that critics often lean on advanced analytics to justify his value. Another fan drew a Cowboys parallel, saying, “Dak Prescott. Overhyped. Not good under pressure.” Still another comparison paired him with Kyler Murray, joking that both athletes “should have played baseball.”
As the sport evolves, the question for the next World Cup will be how Pulisic, who will be 31 in 2030, can deliver at the highest level. Will he still be able to carry the USMNT as their captain, or will a new generation step forward to lead the team on soccer’s biggest stage?