“When I was watching that part of the first episode,” Christian Pulisic says, “I was like, wow, I’m really awkward, and everyone sees me as this boring guy who doesn’t want to show into his life. I hope people can see that there is some more to me.”

Pulisic, the 26-year-old star of the United States men’s national team and Italy’s AC Milan, is daring to open up. In a new docuseries titled Pulisic — produced by CBS Sports and streamed on Paramount+ — the player has granted what the network describes as “unprecedented access” to his life and “growing celebrity”. “As cameras capture Pulisic’s journey in meeting the demands of global stardom while he prepares for the biggest moment of his career — the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup on home soil,” it adds.

The first episode was released this week, with the second and third to follow in January and more promised later in 2025. It has a strong cast list, including Milan executive Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who insists on calling Pulisic “Captain America”, as well as his former Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp, plus insight from team-mates and the closest members of his family.

They all seem surprised, almost perplexed, that Pulisic agreed to take part. Clint Dempsey, a former international team-mate, says: “He doesn’t talk that much, he’s not really outgoing. What kinda content are you gonna get for this thing?” Olivier Giroud, a previous team-mate at AC Milan, says Pulisic is “quiet”, adding there are “so many things he keeps inside himself he doesn’t want to show”. His current USMNT colleague Weston McKennie is “surprised”, saying Pulisic’s journey is “worth documenting, but he doesn’t really let people in so much”.

Ibrahimovic says the only thing he sees a “little bit negative” about Pulisic is that he is “a little bit quiet”. “He is known for being Captain America, but he doesn’t like to be Captain America. He doesn’t maybe see himself like a superhero. He is playing low profile and with his feet on the ground. But you are Captain America, I don’t give a s*** what you say, you are. If that is more pressure on you, I don’t care. It is his own fault — if you weren’t so good, we wouldn’t ask anything from you.”

Pulisic is speaking to The Athletic primarily to promote the series, which traces his life and career from an upbringing in Hershey, Pennsylvania, to becoming the most expensive American soccer player of all time when he joined Chelsea for $73million (then £57.6m) in 2019. Along the way, he captained his nation at the age of just 20 and became the first American man to play and win a Champions League final, when Chelsea defeated Manchester City in 2021. This season, he is AC Milan’s leading scorer and creator of goals, arguably in the form of his career, albeit now facing an injury setback until early January after tearing a calf muscle during Friday’s Serie A loss at Atalanta.

In this interview, like the documentary, Pulisic stops short of feeling like a completely open book. But he is candid about the psychological challenges of life as an elite footballer (“it’s a lot on your brain,” he says), his relationship with his parents, and the perception (also suggested by several other Americans in the documentary) of a bias against U.S. soccer players in Europe.

So why has Pulisic, this reluctant celebrity, decided to do a documentary? “One of my biggest goals is inspiring that next generation of soccer players and my country back home and getting people excited,” he says. “I look at the timing of a World Cup coming up in the U.S. and the sport is the biggest it’s ever been. It seems like the right time.

“Some of us are more introverted, some of us are more outgoing. I hope some people can see this documentary and think, ‘I relate to him’. Hopefully, they see how I am as a person and realise, ‘OK, maybe not all football stars are wanting to be so glamorous and in the spotlight all the time’. I hope they see that I’m kind of the opposite of that and see some of the struggles that I go through on a day-to-day basis as an American battling in Europe to try to be one of the best players in the world.”

It becomes clear that one of his motivations has been to improve perceptions of U.S. soccer players in Europe. In the documentary, Pulisic’s father, Mark, questions whether it will ever change in “our lifetime”, describing it as a “stigma”. Pulisic says in the series that it “p***** me off”, claiming he has “seen it in front of my eyes” and arguing that 50-50 decisions by coaches — about whether to select an American player or not — may have been impacted by it. McKennie says American players “always have that chip on our shoulder when we come to Europe”.

(John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

Pulisic tells The Athletic: “It just inspires me to work that much harder and to have to be better — not even giving them a decision to make and saying, ‘This is the guy that we want playing’. So that’s always pushed me.

“I think it’s in a better place now. I hope I’ve had a say in that and other people look around and say, ‘This guy’s American and he is doing it at the highest level, so we need to respect some of these guys’. Look how many Americans in the last five to 10 years have come over to Europe. We have players in the Champions League and some of the highest leagues in the world. It is not our biggest driver of wanting to prove them wrong. It’s just something that is out there.”

Pulisic also found himself in the headlines in November when he performed the ‘Trump dance’ after scoring for the USMNT against Jamaica, joining in with other sports stars who had mimicked the president-elect’s moves.

He insisted immediately after the game that it was not a political gesture and was just “fun” because he thought the dance was “funny”. Several weeks on, does he feel the same?

“I honestly don’t feel any differently now than when I did it,” he says. “To me, it was a viral dance trend, (the type of which) I’ve done multiple times in my career. Whether it’s a dab or a funny other dance that people still make fun of me for because my dancing skills aren’t very good, I don’t feel any type of way about it. It wasn’t any kind of statement in any way. It was just a fun trend that I was doing. Anyone who looks more into it should really just not because it’s just not there.”

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Explaining USMNT star Christian Pulisic’s ‘Donald Trump dance’ and its impact

Was he surprised by the response? “In the way that the political climate is, especially in the U.S., maybe not. I’ll be honest, beforehand, I didn’t really think about it either. But with the way people react to things, I guess it doesn’t surprise me that much, now I think about it.”

Did U.S. Soccer speak to him about the celebration? “Honestly, no. There was no reaction at all from that side. I think they know me as a person. That’s how we should judge people.”

This documentary takes us closer to Pulisic the person than ever before. What becomes immediately clear is the influence of his father, a former professional player himself. Pulisic, who was coached by his dad as a kid, smiles as he tells the documentary: “Sometimes he gets on my nerves, the guy is absolutely out of his mind. He knows how to get to me, how to motivate me, how to p*** me off.” His mother, Kelley, also played soccer in her younger days, but Pulisic says her approach is different, explaining how her texts before and after games will always be the same regardless of what happens on the field.

“That’s being harsh on my dad, though,” Pulisic tells The Athletic. “He did a good job of drawing the line. He never made me hate the game or want to stop and want to quit. He was not so over the top parenting that it was out of control. It was never like that.

“But definitely he prodded me. He pushed me. He knew how to get the best out of me — always. He was my coach growing up. He would treat me as he would any of his other players, probably even a little bit harder. At this level now, he’s not constantly trying to do it. But he knows my game better than anybody else. So he was constantly trying to push me to play with bravery, with no fear.”

Pulisic with his father, mother and the Champions League trophy after winning it with Chelsea in 2021 (Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Pulisic, at his creative best, is a fearless and spontaneous talent. He says confidence “can depend a lot on your environment, form, trust from your coaches, from your club, how you’re feeling”. He says this has been restored at Milan, the club he joined for €20million (now $21.13m, £16.55m) in the summer of 2023 from Chelsea, where his opportunities were diminished following the takeover by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital in 2022.

“It’s not to say it’s easier now (at Milan) than it was with Chelsea, but there was a time in Chelsea where I felt on top of the world and I was playing great and that confidence and that no-fear mentality was easy to have. And there was also a time when that was extremely difficult because I wasn’t getting the time. I felt pressure that I needed to do more when I did get on the pitch in some kind of way. Now, I’m in a really good head space where I feel quite confident. I feel a lot of trust from the club in a lot of ways.”

For Pulisic, is it fair to say Chelsea was the first real setback? “For sure, it was difficult. I became very used to my environment in Chelsea. I learned so much, won a lot and was really happy with how things went in certain ways. But when it’s time for a change, you can feel it with all of your being. If I wanted to reach that next level, this is a step that I had to take.”

So how does he handle those moments when football becomes more challenging? “Getting older,” he smiles. “And understanding that the best in the world are so clear in the head that, for example, if they miss a chance, it doesn’t feel like the end of the world. Their whole body language does not define them. They know they’re going to get another because they’re that good and they’re getting into positions. It is about a clear head and understanding that you’re going to have better moments ahead.”

And perhaps understanding that nobody can expect things to go perfectly all of the time? “But the mind does crazy things to you,” he counters. “You have a little bit of success and you’re like, ‘Man, this has got to be what it’s always like’. Then when something doesn’t quite go the way you want, it’s funny how your mind takes you right back there. It’s not easy. We all work on it every day.

“The best in the world who seem like they’re scoring every week also have mental droughts and battles they’re dealing with. It just may not seem that way. There’s a lot of parts to it. This career, this profession, I’m extremely blessed to be able to do it, but it’s a lot on your brain. It’s a lot on your body, there are games all the time. It’s hard work.”

Pulisic is reluctant to say this is his best season individually, perhaps because his club have struggled collectively and are seventh in Serie A, nine points short of the Champions League places.

“In each area, I’m getting a little bit better,” he says, “whether that be finishing, crossing, defending, tactically growing and understanding the game better. I feel like I’m improving and becoming a lot stronger mentally, knowing that when tougher times do hit, I’m able to not let it affect me as much, making the less confident moments become a little bit shorter. So it’s just also about consistency and taking care of yourself.”

Pulisic after scoring for Milan in Serie A in September (Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Ciancaphoto Studio/Getty Images)

Pulisic’s value to Milan has been on and off the field, with “Pulisic 11” jerseys constituting 15 per cent of all shirts sold globally since he joined and club social media accounts recording 52 million impressions upon announcing his signing. The average number of U.S. users of the club’s app has doubled since his arrival, according to Milan.

In the summer, the USMNT also had a chance to enhance their reputation at Copa America on home soil but slumped out in the group stage, which led to head coach Gregg Berhalter losing his job and Mauricio Pochettino arriving. The tournament faced significant criticism, particularly over the quality of the playing fields and the authorities’ management of crowds. In the documentary, Pulisic is heard telling Ibrahimovic that there was good and bad to the competition, but that it was a “disaster at times”.

“That was obviously fresh off the emotions of that whole thing,” he tells The Athletic. “It was tough to lose and to go out in the way that we did — just a really unfortunate second game (a 2-1 defeat against Panama) that we like to think we should have won. That put us in a really tough spot. The conditions as well can be tough in those games against these types of teams with the fields and all those things. It was just a quick statement. It’s not like the whole thing was a disaster. I enjoyed the experience a lot as well.

“You could see the hype around the tournament. It was extremely exciting. You could see in that final (between Argentina and Colombia at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, which was delayed by 82 minutes owing to extreme overcrowding) there were people coming in through the vents and it was all kinds of madness.

“Of course, we wish we (the USMNT) could do better. We want to be there to have the American people behind us. Trust me, no one wants it as bad as I do. And it sucked that we couldn’t deliver. That’s why it was just so disappointing for us. The more success you have, the more your country is going to get behind you.”

He says Pochettino has quickly made his vision clear. “He has a very demanding style. He wants us to play an attacking style, where we have the ball, create chances, be very dynamic and also work extremely hard. As soon as we lose it, to win it back and definitely a more higher up pressing style. So, yeah, it’s crazy to say it feels like he’s been the coach for a while and I haven’t got to spend a whole lot of time with him. But it has been a good start so far.”

Pulisic has not had much time with his new national team coach yet owing to the infrequency of international breaks (John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)

Both Pochettino and Pulisic will be pivotal in 2026 and that, perhaps, is where the player’s ultimate legacy will be forged. If he is making another documentary in a decade’s time, what would he like it to show?

“I would love to be able to say that I have been a small or big part in taking soccer in America to a whole other level and hopefully bringing us to a point where we are one of the most respected countries in the world,” says Pulisic. “That would be an incredible goal for me. If we’re in that conversation and competing as a national team at the highest level and in some of the biggest competitions in the world, that would make me extremely proud and just hopefully we can be in a position where the sport has become what some of the other big ones are in America.”

GO DEEPER

Christian Pulisic interview: ‘I want to show the world what the U.S. can do’

(Top photo: Getty; Gabriel Bouys/AFP, Dennis Agyeman/Europa Press; design: Dan Goldfarb)

Rohan Dennis, a two-time world champion cyclist and two-time Olympic medalist, is facing up to seven years in prison after he pleaded guilty for his role in the 2023 death of his wife, fellow Australian Olympian Melissa Hoskins, in court on Tuesday. 

Dennis, who retired from the sport in 2023, negotiated a plea deal with prosecutors in Australia that will not hold the 34-year-old responsible for the death of his wife, who was struck by his vehicle in front of their home in Adelaide on Dec. 30, 2023 and later died from the injuries she sustained. 

The original and more serious charges of dangerous driving causing death and aggravated driving without due care were dropped. Dennis instead pleaded guilty to an aggravated charge of creating likelihood of harm. 

“There was no intention of Mr. Dennis to harm his wife and this charge does not charge him with responsibility for her death,” Dennis’ attorney said in court, via The Australian. 

Melissa Hoskins and Rohan Dennis were engaged in 2017 and married the following year. (Getty)

SWISS CYCLIST DEAD AT 18 AFTER SUSTAINING FATAL HEAD INJURIES IN CRASH AT ROAD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

According to initial reports, it is believed that the couple were engaged in an argument at the time of the incident, and that during the fight, Dennis allegedly dragged Hoskins as she was holding onto his vehicle. She suffered serious injuries in the crash and later died at Royal Adelaide Hospital.

Dennis will be sentenced at a later date and could face significant jail time. 

Rohan Dennis of Australia competes during the men’s cycling individual time trial at the 2020 Summer Olympics on July 28, 2021 in Oyama, Japan. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

The couple share two children together. They were engaged in 2017 and married the following year. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Even in defeat, Josh Allen has the NFL marveling over his unique ability to dominate a game.

The Buffalo Bills superstar, MVP favorite and No. 1 quarterback in these rankings for a second straight week steamrolled the Los Angeles Rams defense Sunday, completing 22 of 37 passes for 342 yards and three touchdowns while leading the rushing attack with 82 yards and three more trips to the end zone. In doing so, he became the first player in NFL history to tally three scores each through the air and on the ground in the same game. Allen led the Bills to four consecutive touchdown drives to close the game, nearly erasing a 17-point, fourth-quarter deficit before falling 44-42.

The Rams survived Allen’s onslaught by brilliantly managing the game when he was tethered to the sideline. They blocked a punt for a touchdown, converted 11 of 15 third downs and didn’t punt until the fourth quarter.

It was the 32nd time in his career Allen produced a passer rating of at least 108 in a game — and the first one of those games he lost. He also fell to 18-2 in games when he’s had a hand in at least four touchdowns.

It just goes to show how much the Rams — or any other opponent — must do right on offense and special teams to withstand Allen’s barrage.

“He is so talented and clearly capable of taking over a game,” said an offensive coach who recently played against the Bills. “Just have to find a way to hang on and make them earn everything, try to prevent the big plays. But he was unstoppable at times.”

Allen has completed 64.1 percent of his passes this season for 3,033 yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also has 416 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. He even was credited with a receiving score in Week 13 against the San Francisco 49ers, bringing his total touchdown tally to 33.

It might come as a surprise, but Allen’s passing numbers are down from recent seasons. He has produced the third-highest completion percentage of his career, but his yards per game (233.3) would be his fewest since 2019. He is on pace to throw exactly 30 touchdown passes, which would rank fourth among his seven seasons.

And it’s not because he’s running more. His 32 rushing yards per game would be his fourth highest, although his nine scores on the ground are tied for his second most.

The real root of his success, according to a longtime defensive coach who has faced the Bills this season, has been a reduction in turnovers. He has been intercepted on only 1.3 percent of his passes, which would be a career best, and he’s gone seven games without a pick.

“He’s playing extremely fast,” the defensive coach said. “If you look at the turnovers and how he’s playing while protecting the ball, that’s the key to his success this season. What’s held him back over the last three years from being completely dominant are the turnovers. (This year), he’s operating on time and in rhythm. He’s making good decisions, has been in charge of more from a protection standpoint while still delivering big-time plays like everyone is accustomed to him making.

“He’s an extremely tough cover on third down, in the red area and in two-minute because of his legs. His red-area production is through the roof this year. He was always tough to defend down there, but he’s avoiding the turnovers, which was happening too much for a player of his caliber.”

Allen, who has never won an MVP award, delivered in crunchtime in Week 11 to give Kansas City its only loss. After the Chiefs cut the Bills’ lead to 23-21 midway through the fourth quarter, Allen converted two third downs before a 26-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-2. Until that point, Lamar Jackson looked like a runaway MVP candidate.

On 4th & 2 with 2:27 left in regulation, Josh Allen dropped back before breaking off a 26-yard TD run.

Allen had just a 1.2% chance of scoring a touchdown once he tucked the ball to run. It was Allen’s first scramble TD run against the Chiefs in his career.

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— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) November 18, 2024

More importantly, though, Allen’s difference-making ability has the Bills looking like legitimate Super Bowl contenders. They have to be much better on defense than they showed in Los Angeles, something they’ll have a chance to show this weekend when they visit the 12-1 Detroit Lions. If the Bills can knock off a second top seed favorite behind Allen’s strong play, postseason expectations will be through the roof in Buffalo.

“He can beat you so many ways,” an executive said. “If you let him sit in the pocket, he will pick you apart. If you blitz him, he will stand in and not flinch, or he will beat you with his legs. He is so big and strong that defenders fall off him. He is fun to watch. So much poise and command on the field.”

Another defensive coach said, “It’s brutal” to both prepare for Allen and then to adjust the plan during the game.

“Even when you have something dialed up, he can make a spectacular play off script and scramble out of trouble,” the second defensive coach said. “You have to continuously change looks pre- and post-snap. You also have to keep him contained in the pocket. If you don’t, you’ll have no shot.”

So yeah, Allen has an answer for everything — at least when he’s on the field.

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Still in command

Jayden Daniels’ red-hot start propelled the Washington Commanders into the playoff race and accelerated the new regime’s rebuild far quicker than anticipated.

So it was mildly surprising when the rookie quarterback and the Commanders limped to a three-game losing streak in November. They snapped the skid with a blowout victory against the Tennessee Titans, and they’re coming out of their bye week with a trip to the New Orleans Saints on tap. From there, they’ll have an opportunity to avenge two of those losses when they take on the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys, with another important game against the Atlanta Falcons in between.

They’ll continue to rely on the No. 2 pick, so their bye-week adjustments will be paramount.

Though there’s been a natural inclination to wonder whether defenses have caught up to offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s scheme — a popular point of criticism when he was the Arizona Cardinals coach — a couple of executives believed that was overblown.

More likely, it was just a rookie quarterback who, for the first time in his young career, hit the proverbial wall.

“Each defense presents its own challenges, and some schemes match up better than others,” an assistant coach observed. “It’s probably more of him trying to figure things out on a week-to-week basis.”

It’s a natural progression for all young quarterbacks. Once there’s enough tape, defenses find new ways to attack, then it’s on the QB to counter. In that sense, it was a great time for a bye week.

Daniels also has faced more pressure. He’s been sacked 12 times in his last four games, and he’s thrown four interceptions over that stretch. He was sacked 17 times with two interceptions in his first nine games.

“Function of the offense,” an executive said. “Takes pressure, and the turnover-worthy throws increase.”

Suffice it to say, Daniels’ early success wasn’t a ruse. Rival coaches and executives believe he’ll be just fine after plateauing for a few weeks.

It’s gonna be Maye

Drake Maye and the New England Patriots were also on a bye last week, but this quote was too good not to use.

“He’s such a stud,” an executive said. “They absolutely nailed that pick. They were patient in the draft, waited and got their guy. That was awesome. He’s got such a powerful arm. That arm is the real deal. He’s a leader, just a great person. They got the right guy.”

It took longer than the Patriots would have liked, but it surely looks like they’ve found their next franchise quarterback.

Injury notes

Saints quarterback Derek Carr has a significant fracture in his left hand and is expected to miss at least several weeks, according to a league source. The Saints have not publicly named their starter, so Jake Haener made his debut in the rankings because he replaced Carr on Sunday.

Las Vegas Raiders QB Aidan O’Connell suffered a bone bruise in his knee, according to a league source. He hasn’t been ruled out this week, so he remained in the rankings.

Dropped out: Carr (left-hand fracture, concussion), No. 26 last week; Trevor Lawrence (concussion), No. 29 last week.

(Photo: Katelyn Mulcahy / Getty Images)