- The 25-year-old left his hometown of Hershey, PA, to move to Germany at the age of 16
- Messi’s Miami will play El Salvador in the friendly match on January 19
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Christian Pulisic has hinted he ‘absolutely’ wants to return to America at the end of his career as he branded Lionel Messi’s MLS move as ‘fantastic’.
The US Men’s National Team (USMNT) star revealed his ambitions to play in his home country again later one day, but only after having had many “great years” in Europe in the first place.
When asked about Messi’s impact in the US, Pulisic expressed his admiration for it all, as he shared The Athletics: ‘I can’t say it’s not expected. He (Messi) is of course the best to ever do it. After making the World Cup (2022) and then obviously being back in MLS, it was fantastic for the league.
“The buzz around the league, around Miami when the game… it looks like a big game on television. Such players will bring in fans, new fans to watch the league, and for me that can only be positive.
Pulisic, who has technically only played professionally in Europe after moving from Hershey, Pennsylvania – his hometown – to Germany days before his 16th birthday, hopes to one day have as much of an impact as the Argentinian has on MLS has had: “It’s clear ‘I’m not an old player,'” the 25-year-old initially said.
USMNT and AC Milan star Christian Pulisic wants to return to America later in his career
Pulisic, 25, wants to star in MLS like Messi at 36, as he praised the Argentine’s influence
‘Hopefully I have some great years ahead of me in Europe. I’m enjoying my time here, so of course MLS isn’t on my mind right now. But yeah. At the end of my career? Absolute.
“I will say it’s come a long way since I first started, even…almost, what, 10 years (ago) when I moved to Europe. Where the game has come from then in the US, even MLS to where it is now, I have seen a huge change, as far as the support in the US; you know, getting behind the national team and even the clubs that see Messi now in Miami, that kind of thing.
“There’s so much buzz around the sport and I think it’s only going to get better in the coming years.”
Messi’s influence on the growth of MLS since his free transfer summer last year has been enormous, with the 36-year-old forward attracting new viewers to the league from all corners of the world.
Pulisic will return to action for AC Milan in the Serie A match against Udinese on Saturday, January 20
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner won Miami’s first trophy in club history by claiming its first Leagues Cup. He also received the tournament’s Golden Boot and has iconic players in the team, including Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez who signs with the Herons for the 2024 season.
Messi and Miami will soon play their first preseason match of the year on Friday when they take on the El Salvador National before matches in Saudi Arabia, including against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr, and Asia.
Pulisic, meanwhile, will return to action for AC Milan on Saturday in a Serie A match against Udinese.