They say the world loves to hate America but secretly wishes to live the American dream. For Christian Pulisic, nicknamed “Captain America,” this paradox hits close to home. Despite being one of Serie A’s standout performers, the USMNT star continues to face what many see as an anti-American bias in European soccer. The recent Guardian rankings have stirred up this debate yet again. Fans can’t help but wonder: what more does Pulisic need to do to gain the recognition he deserves?

In a recent list released by ‘The Guardian’, which named the 100 best male footballers in the world for 2024, a surprising name showed up, Christian Pulisic, but in 95th place. This sparked some serious backlash, especially from former USMNT star, Alexi Lalas. Lalas, who is known for his outspoken opinions, didn’t hold back his thoughts on the matter. “This is ridiculous. This is a first to have him at 95. Now, I have said over the past, given where he is right now and what he is doing in Serie A and for AC Milan, that he is, in my estimation, in the top 25 players in the world right now.“

Lalas, while acknowledging that rankings like these often carry a certain bias, especially against American players, still couldn’t fathom how Pulisic could be ranked so low. “But I recognize that a list, and a list especially coming from the Guardian, is going to have, like we said, an anti-American bias.” His frustration was evident as he pointed out that several players ranked above Pulisic could be considered less deserving of a higher spot.

“But this is ridiculous, okay? We’re talking about a player right now that has starred in Serie A, that is arguably the best player in Seria A, that is playing for AC Milan, and he’s 95th? I mean, come on. And so then you do the exercise of going back and looking at the players that are ahead of him. And there are plenty of players that I certainly think you can make an argument that he is ahead of.“ Lalas Concluded.

Despite being the only American on the list, Pulisic’s 95th spot has raised more than a few eyebrows. The debate continues: Does Pulisic deserve more recognition? And with top clubs like Liverpool, Manchester United, and West Ham reportedly eyeing the talented USMNT winger.

However, the Italian giants have been clear in trying to keep Pulisic. But how?

Italian giants level up the efforts to retain and extend Christian Pulisic’s stay at AC Milan

Christian Pulisic has quickly become one of AC Milan’s most influential players. With five goals and four assists already this season, the 26-year-old has shown his undeniable value on the pitch. Yet, despite his excellent form, rumors about a potential move away from Milan keep circulating. In response, AC Milan is making a strong push to secure Pulisic’s future at the club.

Reports from Italian journalist Daniele Longo reveal that the club’s CEO, Giorgio Furlani, and club legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic, now serving as an advisor, are working to keep Pulisic happy. How? By offering a substantial salary boost. Reports suggest that they’ve decided to increase his salary by more than $1 million net per year, raising his current annual pay from $4.1 million to $5.2 million.

This move highlights how important Pulisic is to Milan’s future, but the question remains: Will Pulisic’s frustration lead him to prove everyone wrong, or will the bias he faces continue to be an obstacle?