COPA AMÉRICA
Bruce Arena compares Christian Pulisic to Landon Donovan
The former USMNT coach spoke about the AC Milan forward’s potential to surpass Donovan in the future.
Christian Pulisic is one the key figures in the USMNT. With 66 caps under his belt, he is the most experienced member of the current national team roster and the team’s top scorer with 28 goals since his debut appearance for the senior side in 2016. The 26-year-old is back to his best after enjoying a productive first season in Serie A with AC Milan - finishing the campaign as the team’s second top scorer. He has long been a reference for the USMNT which has prompted many observers to compare him to Landon Donovan.
Donovan is the USMNT’s joint top goal scorer of all time, tied with Clint Dempsey on 57 goals. Dempsey reached the figure in 141 games while Landon took 157. In terms of honors won - Landon lifted the Gold Cup four times, participated in three World Cups and one Olympic Games. At the club level he won six MLS cups, two Supporters Shields and a US Open Cup.
Christian Pulisic meanwhile has scored 28 goals in 66 games. He is the team’s captain and among his achievements with the national team are three Concacaf Nations League titles. At club level, he has one Champions League winners medal, a Club World Cup, a European Super Cup and one DFB-Pokal (won during his time at Borussia Dortmund).
Pulisic tipped to make history with the USMNT
As for scoring percentage, Landon Donovan averaged 0.36 goals per game, while Pulisic has a percentage of 0.42 - the highest in the top 10 of all-time USMNT goal scorers, even above Clint Dempsey. That indicator suggests that the Rossoneri forward could aspire to fight for the first places among the North American team’s most prolific goal scorers in history.
If there is an authoritative voice to speak about the comparison between both forwards, it’s Bruce Arena, the former coach of the Stars and Stripes, who assures that ‘Captain America’ has all the characteristics to overcome Donovan’s legend: “I think Christian is potentially a better player than Landon. He isn’t just yet, but potentially he could be. He has to accumulate some quality years, but he is getting to that point,” the CBS strategist explained.
The USMNT national will be looking to Pulisic for guidance at the upcoming Copa América which the Milan player hopes to win for the first time. The tournament gets underway on 20 June. The USMNT are in Group C with Uruguay, Bolivia and Panama and open their campaign against Bolivia at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on Sunday 23 June.
The USMNT gear up for this year’s Copa América with two friendlies - against Colombia at Commanders Field on Saturday then against Brazil in Orlando on 13 June.