Football fans in the United States have been known to jump the gun when it comes to getting behind young American talents.
We all remember the hype train that followed Freddy Adu after the Ghana-born attacking midfielder signed his first professional contract at the age of 14.
It didn’t work out quite as planned for Adu, while Julian Green – a much-lauded World Cup goalscorer for the US at the age of 19 – has yet to score a Bundesliga goal for Bayern Munich or Hamburg.
The latest teen sensation to come in for praise is Christian Pulisic, but the Dortmund youngster may well be the real deal.
Aged just 17, Pulisic has already begun to make his mark on the Borussia Dortmund first team.
Fans got a tad overexcited when he made his Bundesliga bow for BVB, but two goals in nine league games so far is not to be sniffed at.
And when the youngster scored his first ever international goal in the Copa America warm-up victory over Bolivia, the reaction was that mix of pride and hype which only American sports fans can produce.
Meanwhile in the USA, Pulisic has just become #USMNT's youngest goal scorer in history (17 years and 253 days)pic.twitter.com/uJBdZAJW6R
— Mr. Numbers (@Mister_Numbers) May 29, 2016
When Marcus Rashford scored on his England debut, there was plenty of excitement.
But it’s somehow different when an American is involved, though, and we didn’t just have American fans singing his praises.
https://twitter.com/kevinmccauley/status/736730893633654784
https://twitter.com/nathenmcvittie/status/736732782014148609
When was the last time the #USMNT scored a goal with passing/movement as pretty as that Nagbe to Pulisic goal?
— Ryan Rosenblatt (@RyanRosenblatt) May 29, 2016
Pulisic is winning the Ballon d'Or
— James Tyler (still) (@JamesTylerESPN) May 29, 2016
https://twitter.com/RecycledRecords/status/736736580191326208
Just flipped back to USMNT match and saw Nagbe to Pulisic! 17 years old. Wow. #thefuture #USAvBOL
— Michael Luo (@michaelluo) May 29, 2016
"Let's not build Pulisic up too soon" is a trite and obvious thing to say. And saying it doesn't accomplish it. Just be reasonable with hope
— Leander “same handle *elsewhere*” Schaerlaeckens (@LeanderAlphabet) May 29, 2016
There’s always room for improvement, though.
https://twitter.com/NutmegRadio/status/736732466275307520
