Christian Pulisic
My dad taught me, like, no matter what, when I go out and play against these bigger players, just to be myself. I knew that I was good enough and that I had the ability to. I never shy away from anyone, and I don't think anyone should.Collection: Dad
It really does frustrate me when I watch MLS, and I see our best U-17 players - who, again, are so talented and so capable - being rostered... but then not being put on the field much to actually play. I watch that, and I just think about how I was given a chance... a real chance... and it changed my life.Collection: Chance
I always had a soccer ball with me. I could never stop. As young as I can remember, my dad was always throwing a soccer ball at me.Collection: Dad
I just try to show no fear when I go on the field every time.Collection: Fear
It's a fast learning process if you want to be successful at the highest level.Collection: Learning
A lot of people have asked me what's it like being an American player in Europe. 'Do you have to earn more respect because you're American?' But I don't think it's like that at all. I think if you're good, you're good. They don't care where you're from or anything like that.Collection: Respect
Sometimes you have to take a risk if you want great things to happen.
I was always very small, so growing up, I was always getting kicked around. It was something I kind of grew up with.
If you want to be at the highest level, then you have to really work hard every day.
LeBron James has always been the biggest one - I just love to watch him. I'm a big fan, and he's a big inspiration of mine.
I just try to do the best I can for myself and the people around me.
I can jump high; I can dunk - nobody really believes that I can.
I put enough pressure on myself.
The pressure I give myself from within is what drives me.
It's definitely one of my biggest passions - I played every day after school with all my friends from high school in Pennsylvania. They weren't really soccer players, so we would play basketball all the time.
I'm not super outgoing, but I think the biggest thing I can do is lead by example.
I love watching the game, and I loved watching the World Cup.
I'm not a prodigy - or a 'wonderboy,' as some have put it.
I try to focus on the next week and the next game every time, focus on what I'm doing right now and just to continue to improve every single day. If I do that, I should have a good future.
Lionel Messi, getting to meet him, you're a little star-struck in the beginning, of course.
In the U.S. system, too often the best player on an under-17 team will be treated like a 'star' - not having to work for the ball, being the focus of the offense at all times, etc. - at a time when they should be having to fight tooth and nail for their spot.
I always tried to bring confidence to the game.
I think it's normal to have competition once you get to the professional level.
I think I've just been able to stay balanced, and my family has helped me through that. And with that, I just can continue to develop because I work hard every day.
It was definitely tough being the coach's son.
I like to think of myself as a tough kid.
The World Cup is as big as it gets.
I played one year of competitive basketball, actually. I don't remember what grade I was in, maybe middle school or something. I was the point guard - I was the smallest one always. I did my best; I thought I did pretty good. I was always a little bit better at soccer, so I had to make the decision.
In my hometown, people I didn't even know started to recognize me: 'Oh, you're that kid that's doing well over there in Europe and with the national team!'
I would say the youth systems in Germany have impressed me the most and how they grow their youth players into full professionals.
I set my own personal goals; I'm not playing to satisfy fans.
I've always said that there's a bit of a different sense of pride when you're playing for your national team.
It's been a dream of mine to play for the U.S. national team.
I was watching the 2014 World Cup, and I was playing with the U-17s, I think, at the time. I remember watching it in the summer, and I was like, 'You know what? It's a pretty crazy goal, but I want to be there in 2018.'
I think it's important to make clear, you know, that the problem with American soccer... it isn't talent.
I think, with soccer, you never really know what's going to happen in your career - that's the beauty of it.
I played with the youth national team, I played in some CONCACAF games, and it's always physical; it's always intense.
Luckily, I've just had a lot of people around me that have helped me through it because I wouldn't even be close to where I am if I didn't have the support system I do. I wouldn't be able to do it on my own.
I learned a lot in the Bundesliga, just playing with these very physical players, playing quickly.
When it comes to cup competitions and the Champions League, it's always about going as far as we can. Getting out of the group stage is the first objective, then after that, we will see.
Just knowing that people are going to the game or something with your jersey on and supporting you is really exciting and was a dream of mine. Every time I see it at Dortmund, at games, it's still exciting and gets you really excited to play.
It's always tough when you see a good player leave. It's not easy.
I'm just trying to live in the moment and do the best I can for myself and for my teammates, and that's all I can really focus on.
I was very young, but I just remember going to school every day in England, which I didn't enjoy. Every day, as soon as the bell would ring, we would go out and be on this little - it looked like a basketball court, but it was a soccer court with goals and a hard floor.
I've already played against some of my biggest idols.
I've been fortunate that I have good athletic ability, just in general. Quick, strong, able to bounce off players, trying to be strong in winning tackles, and annoying to play against, pretty much.
I'm trying to become just more clinical in every situation, whether it's the final pass, the final shot, or whatever it is.
I think it's good to have competition.
Being able to play at club level at a high level and then getting called into the national team, it's amazing.
The expectations some Americans put on me is too much, is what I would say. But I don't take it that way. I know no one means harm to me like that or wanting to put too much pressure on me.