Christian Pulisic’s rise to stardom has been nothing short of meteoric. From the moment he made his mark at Borussia Dortmund, his name has been on the lips of soccer fans worldwide. As one of the brightest young talents in the game, Pulisic has played pivotal roles in the USMNT and his club career, making comparisons to soccer greats. But with fame came something he couldn’t have anticipated — the intense and sometimes overwhelming pressure of social media.

From a young age, Pulisic had to contend with not just the demands of professional soccer but also the pressures of having his every move watched, liked, and scrutinized online. Let’s take a closer look at the moments when the USMNT star truly felt the weight of the pressure. How did he deal with it? What strategies did he develop to handle the mental toll of fame?

Christian Pulisic outlines the duality of fame

When Pulisic joined Borussia Dortmund as a teenager, things moved quickly. He was scoring goals and impressing in the national team qualifiers, and soon, his social media following exploded. “Your social media blows up, and you’re like, ‘What is going on? People know me, they talk about me,’” the AC Milan star recalls. The attention was a thrill at first—who wouldn’t enjoy the recognition? But for a 17-year-old thrust into the limelight, the situation quickly became more complicated.

The excitement of gaining followers and becoming a public figure came along with the overwhelming weight of scrutiny. “You want to go and look at it and you get all excited, but then you get angry when people don’t write positive things,” Pulisic admits. This isn’t an uncommon experience for young athletes, especially when social media gives everyone an opinion—good or bad.

As much as he reveled in the praise, the harsh criticisms were tough to handle, and the balance was hard to strike. “You add a little bit more pressure on yourself,” he reflects, acknowledging how challenging it was to block out the noise. As his first two seasons unfolded, the American found himself in a constant struggle to keep his focus amid all the distractions.

What helped him survive this early stage of his career was the support system he had around him. Pulisic credits his family, friends, and mentors for helping him stay grounded. “I feel like I handled it pretty well, and that’s because of the people around me who helped me a lot through it,” he says. It was this circle of support that allowed him to navigate the pressures of fame, shielding him from the overwhelming nature of the digital world. Nevertheless, despite highlighting the perils of fame and social media, the USMNT star’s marketing pull is evident.

AC Milan’s Marketing Dynamo and Global Ambassador

Christian Pulisic is not just a star for AC Milan but a marketing powerhouse. His move to Milan has amplified the club’s visibility in the U.S., tapping into a growing soccer fanbase. Pulisic’s status as “Captain America” makes him a valuable brand ambassador, driving jersey sales and global engagement. Beyond his on-field performances, his appeal enhances Milan’s marketability, cementing his role as a key figure in expanding the club’s international footprint.

Sales at the AC Milan team store recorded a 266% rise once the American signed for the Italian side. Additionally, Pulisic’s jersey has accounted for 45% of all jerseys sold, with Americans representing 43% of total sales compared to 9% last year.

The USMNT star currently amasses over 13 million followers on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. A supremely confident Pulisic has now mastered the murky waters of social media. His posts often offer a glimpse of behind-the-scenes moments, highlights, and personal milestones that create attachment and keep fans coming back for more.

In many ways, Pulisic embodies the future of football: a global sport that transcends borders, uniting fans through shared passion and cultural exchange. Whether in the red and black of AC Milan or the red, white, and blue of the U.S. national team, Christian Pulisic’s influence is undeniable, and his legacy is just beginning to unfold.