The USMNT question mark who found his voice: “I know where I want to be” – Malik Tillman
A comeback from injury, a Gold Cup breakthrough and a bold transfer fuel his belief ahead of a home World Cup.
At the start of November 2025, Malik Tillman made up for lost time. After a month on the sidelines recovering from the muscle injury that caught him off guard in training with the United States during October’s FIFA window, he laced up his boots again and scored against Wolfsburg. He opened his account this year with a brace in the Champions League against Villarreal and followed that up in the Bundesliga against Frankfurt.
The USMNT enigma sat down with GOAL and spoke with rare candor. “I know where I want to be,” he said, his voice charged with emotion at the prospect of representing one of the three host nations at the 2026 World Cup. His monologue is as inspiring as it is revealing, tied to the ambition that defines this new chapter in a career already marked by success.
The road to success
“I’m ready to fight. I’m ready to give everything I have. I’m ready to keep working on myself.”
The line captures Tillman’s current mindset. He is convinced he has not yet reached his best version, but he is determined to keep pushing to meet both his own expectations and those of the teams he represents.
The real turning point came during last summer’s Gold Cup. That tournament reshaped both his internal and external narrative. Confidence arrived at precisely the right moment, and his performances silenced doubts that had followed him for years in a Stars and Stripes shirt.
Until then, his time with the USMNT had lacked goals and defining nights. The Gold Cup changed that. For the first time, he felt fully at home in the American starting XI.
“All I can do is stay fit and be in the best shape possible. At the end of the day, it’s not my decision if I’m on the roster or not. All I can do is work hard, stay fit, and get as much playing time as possible. I think if I do that, I’ll be on that list. So for me, it’s just about working hard,” he admits, his focus fixed firmly on the summer of the World Cup.
Beyond performances on the field, the tournament strengthened relationships. Daily life together, conversations off the pitch, and a closer bond with the coaching staff solidified his place within the squad – especially his connection with Mauricio Pochettino. Tillman reinforced his belief that he can aim higher, a message he emphasized repeatedly in his conversation with GOAL.
Bundesliga spotlight and Bayer Leverkusen pressure
With the sweetness of that momentum came the next challenge – a multimillion-dollar transfer to Bayer Leverkusen after standing out with PSV.
The move placed him under a brighter spotlight, with the added pressure of taking on a leading role at a reigning German champion in the midst of reconstruction. Off the field, the adaptation came naturally. On it, the adjustment was more complex, shaped even by early changes on the bench.
Although his numbers were uneven at first, his influence stretches beyond statistics. Tillman creates chances, contributes to attacking build-up, and carries tactical weight that does not always show up in goals or assists.
His Champions League brace to secure passage to the next round confirmed that competitive growth and rekindled the dream of the boy who once imagined European nights under the lights.
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