American Players Abroad

A fantastic Christian Pulisic goal vs Lecce on Saturday opened the scoring of AC Milan’s 3-0 victory and set a personal record for the American.

Milan manager Stefano Pioli gave Pulisic a new role for the Lecce game as the USMNT forward started as a center attacking midfielder instead on his usual role at right wing. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Milan’s go-to No. 10, was out for the game through suspension.

Pulisic made an early impact in his new position opening the scoring in the sixth minute with a classy finish from the top of the box.

Italian giants Juventus released a statement in support of United States men’s national team star Weston McKennie after he was the victim of racial abuse from Lazio fans on Tuesday.

A video circulating online shows McKennie walking on the sideline after being substituted in the 89th minute. In the video fans can clearly be heard making monkey sounds and chants toward the American midfielder.

Weston McKennie racial abuse vs. Lazio

AS Monaco and United States men’s national team striker Folarin Balogun got himself on the scoresheet twice during his side’s 5-2 Ligue 1 victory vs. Metz on Saturday.

Balogun’s first goal was scored in bizarre fashion as Metz goalkeeper Alexandre Oukidja lived every keeper’s worst nightmare and got caught on the ball. Balogun, who came on a substitute in the 65th minute, did well to force the mistake and was rewarded with a goal.

They don’t come much easier than this.

Thursday night’s United States men’s national team 3-1 victory vs. Jamaica in the Concacaf Nations League semifinals was about as ugly as it gets. There are still some positives to be pulled for the game like the performance of Gio Reyna.

Were you watching Nottingham Forest??

Reyna is on loan from Borussia Dortmund to Forest until this summer and it’s been a nightmare move for the 21-year-old.

Chelsea and United States women’s national team forward Catarina Macario returned from an ACL injury this month and has already bagged two goals and an assist for her club.

Macario, who had been out injured since summer 2022, made her long-awaited Chelsea debut on March 3 in the FA Women’s Super League, scoring a late goal. She then found the back of the net again with the winner vs. Everton on March 10.

On Tuesday she provided her first assist for her new club as Chelsea defeated Ajax 3-0 in the Women’s Champions League.

The USMNT might just have another star on the way.

14-year-old American prodigy Cavan Sullivan to sign with Manchester City

According to reports from the world-renowned transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City have secured the signing of the highly sought-after 14-year-old attacker Cavan Sullivan. Despite fierce competition from clubs such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Borussia Dortmund, the Citizens emerged victorious in the race for the Philadelphia Union youth player’s signature. 

Christian Pulisic scored for a fourth game in-a-row with AC Milan as he found the back of the net against Verona in the Rossoneri’s 3-1 Serie A victory on Sunday.

This is becoming a weekly occurrence for us at The18 to cover a Pulisic goal. We absolutely love it. He now has 12 goals this season which breaks his record in one season of 11 set in 2019-20 with Chelsea.

Milan visited Verona, 15th in Serie A, and took care of business climbing to second in the league table with the win.

Christian Pulisic opened the scoring in AC Milan’s 3-1 victory against Slavia Praha in the Europa League Round of 16 on Thursday. Milan advanced to the quarterfinals 7-3 on aggregate with Pulisic scoring two of the goals in the tie.

The Pulisic goal vs Slavia Praha on Thursday came in the first half when Rafael Leão found the American open near top of the box. Pulisic was composed, evaded a defender and tucked away the finish into the bottom corner.

DORTMUND — Jadon Sancho and Marco Reus were on target as Borussia Dortmund secured a nervous 2-0 win over PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday and a Champions League last-eight place for the first time in three years with a 3-1 aggregate victory.

Luuk de Jong could have sent the game into extra time when he was left free in front of goal but instead of tapping in, he sent the ball wildly over the bar in stoppage time.

Luuk de Jong miss vs Dortmund

Weston McKennie is in some of the best form of his career as the USMNT and Juventus midfielder has lit up Serie A this season.

He’s arguably been the best player for Juventus in the 2023-24 campaign and one of the top midfielders in the Italian league. One McKennie statistic raised eyebrows among fans.

Since the start of the calendar year only one player in Europe’s top five leagues has more assists than him. Kevin De Bruyne.