When it comes to American soccer, Christian Pulisic is usually the headliner—after all, Captain America has a knack for delivering when it counts. But recently, it’s been Antonee Robinson stealing the spotlight. The 27-year-old left-back is breaking out in a big way, and his versatility and game-changing skills are impossible to overlook. With his rapid rise and growing reputation as one of the best, Robinson is now a frontrunner for the USMNT Player of the Year award.

While many soccer experts including Alexi Lalas have claimed Christian to be the award winner this time, Stu Holden, the former USMNT star, has chosen Antonee Robinson as his USMNT player of the year. “I am going with Antonee Robinson, I think Jedi’s club season has skyrocketed him into the conversation right now about one of the best left-backs in the premier league, I think he has improved his final product and I think also you have to consider now in today’s day and age when we talk about load management and lack of minutes, this guy is as consistent as they can he plays everywhere, plays every minute of every game,” said Holden on a recent podcast with Alexi Lalas.

Holden even went on to add that over the past 10, 15, or even 20 years, we haven’t seen a left-back like Robinson in history. Being preferred over a player like Christian Pulisic speaks for itself. The smooth transitions between offense and defense combined with his in-game awareness, and ability to deliver in important crucial games puts him on the elite players list. Taking account of his contributions, he is cementing his position as a key figure in US soccer.

He has actively proved his reliance on both domestic as well as international level. His performances in the supposedly toughest league in the world are evidence of his world-class profile. His all-round performances may outshine Pulisic’s brilliance on the field. While many consider Christian Pulisic ‘the face of US soccer’, Robinson’s class shouldn’t be slipped through the cracks.

The 27-year-old’s rise has been one of the most impressive journeys in the soccer world. Soccer pundits are already counting him as one of the best players in the world, but is it too soon to put him in the elite bracket?

Is it too soon to judge Antonee Robinson?

Don’t count your chickens before they hatch, they say. No doubt, Antonee Robinson is one of the players you look out for, but it is too quick to judge him. Some soccer pundits might be terming him as an all-timer, they are the same voices that will be the first to scrutinize for a setback.

This is often the case- overpraise and then overreact. For example, Marcus Rashford’s dip in form after having good seasons saw him facing backlashes from pundits, and fans and eventually led to him being dropped from both the club and national team. Like every other player, even Robinson will face some setbacks in his journey, and he is bound to face some scrutiny. It does nothing but put pressure on the individual risking their true potential. All good things take time.

In the end, Antonee Robinson surely has the potential and abilities to prove himself as one of the soccer greats but we should understand soccer is a long-haul sport. Meanwhile, who do you think should take home the USMNT Player of the Year trophy?