World Cup stories: US legend hails Christian Pulisic as Serie A's standout star

Milan head into the Derby della Madonnina tonight looking for a last chance to derail rivals Inter's Scudetto bid.

Part of the reason for the Rossoneri's success has been the form of the frontmen, and most notably Christian Pulisic. 

With 95 days to go before the 2026 World Cup, all eyes are on the Americans, who head into the tournament as the co-host's poster boy. 

• Read next I 96 days - 2026 World Cup stadiums - full list of host venues in the USA, Canada & Mexico

The American, who never quite hit the heights expected during his time in the Premier League with Chelsea, is finally fulfilling that potential in Italy has been a key man in the Rossoneri's Champions League chase. 

He's already netted eight times this season, despite missing a chunk of the season with injury, and was the star of the show during both Milan's statement win over Napoli in October and the victory in the first derby last November.

His form will undoubtedly see him among the individual awards come the end of the season, and one former US star believes his countryman is currently the best the Italian top flight has to offer. 
 

"You could put him in an argument that he's the best player in Serie A right now or surely the most consistent," Brad Friedel exclusively told DAZN News thanks to ToonieBet . 

"He's going to be the pivotal one for the club. If he faces an injury or an illness or something that happens, then Milan will be a lesser club without him this season. And obviously, with my American ties, I don't want him to have an injury because we need him fit for the summer.

"From his time at Chelsea, it didn't go great for him. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't like it is now. So you always worry what's going to happen when a player who goes from a big club like Dortmund, a big club like Chelsea, doesn't do well. Where do they go?

"But he's landed on his feet in Milan and he's done brilliantly since he's gone there."

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As the former Premier League goalkeeper admits, he has a selfish interest in the performances of Pulisic as he looks forward to next summer's World Cup, in which the US are joint hosts. 

The 27-year-old will be the national team's most prized asset as they look to make waves in the tournament and Freidel is hopeful of seeing Pulisic at the centre of some memorable moments in the summer.

Adding, "They need a Christian Pulisic-led signature win in the World Cup. You know who that's against? We'll have to wait and see. But is he capable of doing that? Yeah, absolutely.

"Mauricio Pochettino is going to get a team that competes, that's for sure. And the team will be good, be really, really good,  solid, full of energy. And then when you get in the World Cup, you need the special players to be able to do special things at special times of the game. And Christian is one of those players who can do that. Not every player can do that. 

"We don't possess a lot of those, what I would say, game-changing special players in the attacking third. And that's what Christian is. And we need them." 
 

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