Wearing the captain’s armband is more than just a symbol, it’s a responsibility. The captain is the leader, the voice of the team, and every player looks up to them until the final whistle. While many captains take charge by barking instructions and commanding attention, not all lead in the same way, especially for the USMNT. Fox Sports researcher David Mosse believes Christian Pulisic lacks the traditional leadership style but makes up for it in a unique way, much like Lionel Messi. 

Actions speak louder than words, and that’s always been the case for Lionel Messi who leads by example on the pitch. USMNT’s ‘Captain America’ is following a similar path under Mauricio Pochettino, however, David ‘Statman’ Mosse argues that the Stars and Stripes might benefit from a different kind of leader, someone who is more vocal and assertive, embodying the archetype of a ‘macho’ captain. 

“Now Pulisic has grown into the captain role and seemed willing to take some of that responsibility in the leadership, and he performs, he leads more by example, kind of like (how) Messi does as a captain,” said Moose on the latest episode of ‘State of the Union Podcast’, highlighting how Pulisic is not an old-school leader which the USMNT needs right now. 

“If you have got Tim Ream, Jedi (Antonee Robinson), Tyler Adams if you can get a little bit maturity out of Weston McKennie, I think you are starting to see some signs there of development of leadership, and that could be important for the team” added Mosse. And looking at the names, most of these players are ‘the aggressive ones’, drawing more fouls on the pitch. 

Captaincy aside, Pulisic has been in superb form for both club and country. Recently, after scoring a brace in the USMNT’s 5-2 aggregate win over Jamaica in the Nations League, he became the fastest American to reach 50 goals. With his stock rising again, big clubs have taken an interest in the American, but critics have warned him to avoid repeating past mistakes. 

Ex-USMNT star advises Pulisic not to make transfer mistake 

On the recent episode of CBS Sports Golazo’s ‘Call it What You Want’, former USMNT player Charlie Davies advised Christian Pulisic not to return to the Premier League when the transfer window opens. With clubs like Liverpool, Manchester United, and West Ham all interested in the ‘Lebron James of Soccer, ’ Pulisic must not forget his time at Stamford Bridge. 

Similarly, when Pulisic joined Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund, there were heavy expectations on the then-youngster, who failed to deliver. Despite boasting of a Champions League medal and being the only American to do so, Pulisic managed to score only 20 goals in 98 appearances, a modest tally considering his price tag.

While his current form has garnered interest from big names, we cannot forget that it was the same form that saw him move to the Premier League. Former USMNT player, Landon Donovan also advised the skipper to take a step back and wait. If the USMNT were to win their upcoming CONCACAF Nations League, his price tag is likely to rise even further.