It’s no longer just the Christian Pulisic Show for Team USA ahead of a home World Cup. But he’s still the leading man

 

Christian Pulisic of United States controls the ball wile under pressure from Iliman Ndiaye of Senegal on Sunday.

John Dorton/USSF/Getty Images

Charlotte —  

Christian Pulisic has dealt with being deemed America’s men’s soccer savior for so long that it’s just part of his existence.

It’s a title no one can really live up to – one player cannot simply erase generations of lagging behind the rest of the world in the globe’s most popular game, no matter how talented – but it has been foisted upon Pulisic since he was a teenager. Such is the price one pays for being the best-known American player in a sport where the USA has never truly excelled in the men’s game.

But if Pulisic plays in two weeks the way he did on Sunday in Charlotte, then he might do that rarest of things in sports: Live up to expectations. And if his teammates support him the way they did as they sliced Senegal open over and over on the Bank of America turf, then they might do that rarest of things for a Team USA squad at the World Cup: Exceed expectations.

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“I felt like relaxed, but also like just energized,” Pulisic said after the game. “It felt good. It felt good in a lot of ways. I’m sure guys are really happy being on the roster now, and now they can hopefully just be themselves and just try to take it all and enjoy the summer.”

The victorious 3-2 scoreline might not reflect it, but the USA thoroughly outplayed Senegal on Sunday in what will serve as a promising statement of intent for this home World Cup that kicks off in less than two weeks.

There are certainly some concerning defensive moments for manager Mauricio Pochettino to worry over in the coming days before a final warm-up match against Germany on Saturday in Chicago, but he can be confident that the squad he’s assembled might have unlocked his team’s best player.

Christian Pulisic of United States celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the international friendly match between United States and Senegal.

Omar Vega/USSF/Getty Images

Pulisic’s promising afternoon

It took all of six minutes for Pulisic and company to show what the best version of this team could be.