Christian Pulisic is on his way to becoming a world class talent. It is amazing to think that the 18-year-old only made his professional debut 19 months ago. In that time, he has earned 16 caps for the United States, scoring 7 goals. His play has been so stellar thus far, he was given the number 10 shirt without anyone so much as raising an eyebrow. With Borussia Dortmund, he’s become a regular game day selection and is starting matches and scoring goals in the Champions League.
It is time to move past the hype train and look at what makes Pulisic so good. He has the vision of an eagle and can pick a pass like a veteran with 10 years of top level playing experience. He is essentially a dribbling ninja and leaves defenses stabbing at the air in vain attempts to corral him. Pulisic finishes chances and is particularly adept at netting one timers. His soccer IQ belies his age and he has terrific body control, using his low center of gravity to hold off physical defenders. Finally, he’s got every single clutch gene available, helping his teams get results when all seemed hopeless.
Christian Pulisic is still a young player. The Bundesliga is incredibly competitive, and Borussia Dortmund has plenty of talents and deep pockets. New Dortmund coach Peter Bosz will look to improve on last season’s third place finish in the Bundesliga and the team’s quarterfinal exit in the Champions League. This summer will be crucial for Pulisic to show that he has what it takes to be a regular in the starting 11 for one of the best club teams in the world.