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| Mauricio Pochettino Challenges Christian Pulisic to Become the “Lionel Messi” of the U.S. Men’s National Team. |
This summer is a big moment for U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) head coach Mauricio Pochettino. He’s not only working on building team chemistry and tactics but also highlighting how important Christian Pulisic is—not just for the team, but for American soccer as a whole.
However, Christian Pulisic won’t be playing for the USMNT this summer. After a long season with AC Milan in Europe, Pulisic and the U.S. Soccer Federation agreed it was best to give him some rest. While this helps keep him healthy, some fans and experts have questioned the decision since there aren’t many chances left before the 2026 World Cup for Pochettino to get the team firing on all cylinders.
Ahead of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, Pochettino joined USMNT legends Tim Howard and Landon Donovan on their podcast, Unfiltered Soccer, where he made an interesting comparison between Pulisic and one of soccer’s all-time greats, Lionel Messi. But this wasn’t about their skills on the field. Instead, Pochettino talked about the bigger role players like Pulisic have in connecting the sport to the country’s identity.
Pochettino actually coached Messi when they were both at Paris Saint-Germain.
“First off, Christian has shown great quality over the last year. He’s been performing well in Europe and also for the national team. He’s a very talented player who can help us win,” Pochettino said.
He added, “People sometimes compare Messi to Pulisic. I don’t want to disrespect either of them, but in this country, Pulisic should be our Messi. He’s an iconic player. If you ask kids on the street about soccer players here, they’ll say Pulisic.”
Pulisic isn’t the only big name missing from the Gold Cup roster. Antonee Robinson, Yunus Musah, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Folarin Balogun, and Gio Reyna will also be absent for various reasons.
Tim Howard recently spoke out about the situation, pointing out the pressure on the team and coach, since the Gold Cup could be one of the last real chances for this squad to prove themselves in a competitive setting.
Pochettino understands the importance of thinking about the medium and long term, especially with the 2026 World Cup being hosted in the U.S. He called the Gold Cup a “long training camp” — a crucial one, even though many key players will be missing.
On the bright side, this gives rising stars like Diego Luna a chance to step up. Pochettino, less than a year into his job, is already under pressure to deliver results after a disappointing finish in the CONCACAF Nations League.
“I feel the responsibility. We all do. Soccer is about joy, and we can’t put too much pressure on the players, but at the same time, they need to perform,” Pochettino explained.
“You have to be brave and a winner—not just talk about it, but show it on the field. When you defend your country’s flag, that’s when you prove, ‘Yes, I have quality. I’m a good player. But now it’s about defending your country.’”
The USMNT will face Turkey and Switzerland in international friendlies on June 7 and 10, before starting their Gold Cup campaign against Trinidad and Tobago on June 15.
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