US soccer cult hero Alexi Lalas is hoping that one member of the current United States national team can build on an already impressive club legacy with a convincing showing at the 2026 World Cup.

Lalas represented the United States at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups, as well as the 1992 and 1996 Olympics. After winning gold at the 1991 Pan American Games, Lalas won the 1995 US Cup, leading to him being named US Soccer Athlete of the Year. He finished his international career with 96 caps and is still well regarded by US football fans.

But as the United States looks to complete a memorable home campaign, Lalas has pinned his hopes on one standout individual who he believes can become the greatest American football player his country has ever produced.

Alexi Lalas’ Pick for Greatest American Soccer Player

United States players via Reuters/Blake Dahlin

In recent decades, the debate for America’s all-time greatest player has come down to two: Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey. And whilst Dempsey’s personality and consistent success in the Premier League have won him many admirers, Lalas prefers the former Bayern Munich and Everton star.

“I think when it comes right down to it, in a World Cup game for the country, if you have Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey standing there, I’m going to pick Landon Donovan,” said Lalas. “Now, in a bar fight or a street game, I’m going to pick Clint Dempsey.”

However, the recent success of Christian Pulisic has changed the FOX analyst’s opinion. Pulisic has hit double figures with goal contributions in each of his three seasons at AC Milan. And after his starring role in a 3-0 victory over Udinese last season, Lalas argued that Pulisic is the Rossoneri’s star player currently.

“I think you are looking at it certainly right now, and if you need any more proof, this game is it, that he is an elite player in Serie A. He is, I think, arguably the best player for AC Milan,” stated Lalas on his State of the Union podcast.

Having picked up major honours at Milan, Borussia Dortmund, and Chelsea, including the Champions League and the Club World Cup with the latter, Pulisic is the most decorated US footballer at European level. But he may need more international success to convince the US supporters.

The Mount Rushmore of American Soccer

Kiyoshi Mio via Reuters

Donovan and Dempsey are worthy candidates, and are currently America’s joint all-time leading goalscorers on 57. Donovan also played a starring role in USMNT’s best modern run at a World Cup, making the quarterfinals in 2002. Dempsey, meanwhile, was the first American player to score at three different World Cups.

The United States goalkeepers, Tim Howard and Brad Friedel, also enjoyed highly successful careers in the Premier League and represented their country admirably on the global stage.

Donovan and Friedel’s teammate Claudio Reyna is also fondly remembered, having made the World Cup All Star Team in 2002, as well as finding success in the Premier League and the Bundesliga.

Alexi Lalas’ old teammates Cobi Jones, Jeff Agoos, and Marcelo Balboa can throw their hats in the ring for their international success alone. And Michael Bradley, America’s 151-cap man, followed an eerily similar path to Pulisic, travelling to the Bundesliga, then the Premier League, before winding up in Serie A at Roma.

But with almost a century of appearances and sustained successes in several of Europe’s top leagues, at just 27, Pulisic is still the man to beat. If the USA can add an unlikely World Cup winners’ medal to his cabinet, his legacy will surely be set in stone.

US soccer cult hero Alexi Lalas is hoping that one member of the current United States national team can build on an already impressive club legacy with a convincing showing at the 2026 World Cup.

Lalas represented the United States at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups, as well as the 1992 and 1996 Olympics. After winning gold at the 1991 Pan American Games, Lalas won the 1995 US Cup, leading to him being named US Soccer Athlete of the Year. He finished his international career with 96 caps and is still well regarded by US football fans.

But as the United States looks to complete a memorable home campaign, Lalas has pinned his hopes on one standout individual who he believes can become the greatest American football player his country has ever produced.

Alexi Lalas’ Pick for Greatest American Soccer Player

United States players via Reuters/Blake Dahlin

In recent decades, the debate for America’s all-time greatest player has come down to two: Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey. And whilst Dempsey’s personality and consistent success in the Premier League have won him many admirers, Lalas prefers the former Bayern Munich and Everton star.

“I think when it comes right down to it, in a World Cup game for the country, if you have Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey standing there, I’m going to pick Landon Donovan,” said Lalas. “Now, in a bar fight or a street game, I’m going to pick Clint Dempsey.”

However, the recent success of Christian Pulisic has changed the FOX analyst’s opinion. Pulisic has hit double figures with goal contributions in each of his three seasons at AC Milan. And after his starring role in a 3-0 victory over Udinese last season, Lalas argued that Pulisic is the Rossoneri’s star player currently.

“I think you are looking at it certainly right now, and if you need any more proof, this game is it, that he is an elite player in Serie A. He is, I think, arguably the best player for AC Milan,” stated Lalas on his State of the Union podcast.

Having picked up major honours at Milan, Borussia Dortmund, and Chelsea, including the Champions League and the Club World Cup with the latter, Pulisic is the most decorated US footballer at European level. But he may need more international success to convince the US supporters.

The Mount Rushmore of American Soccer

Kiyoshi Mio via Reuters

Donovan and Dempsey are worthy candidates, and are currently America’s joint all-time leading goalscorers on 57. Donovan also played a starring role in USMNT’s best modern run at a World Cup, making the quarterfinals in 2002. Dempsey, meanwhile, was the first American player to score at three different World Cups.

The United States goalkeepers, Tim Howard and Brad Friedel, also enjoyed highly successful careers in the Premier League and represented their country admirably on the global stage.

Donovan and Friedel’s teammate Claudio Reyna is also fondly remembered, having made the World Cup All Star Team in 2002, as well as finding success in the Premier League and the Bundesliga.

Alexi Lalas’ old teammates Cobi Jones, Jeff Agoos, and Marcelo Balboa can throw their hats in the ring for their international success alone. And Michael Bradley, America’s 151-cap man, followed an eerily similar path to Pulisic, travelling to the Bundesliga, then the Premier League, before winding up in Serie A at Roma.

But with almost a century of appearances and sustained successes in several of Europe’s top leagues, at just 27, Pulisic is still the man to beat. If the USA can add an unlikely World Cup winners’ medal to his cabinet, his legacy will surely be set in stone.

UFC legend Daniel Cormier has offered his reaction after his longtime friend Dustin Poirier was arrested for public drunkenness at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Sunday.

The 37-year-old former UFC interim lightweight champion Poirier was caught on police bodycam footage challenging a police officer to a fight and acting aggressively toward airport staff after seemingly having been removed from his flight due to being drunk.

If found guilty, ‘The Diamond’ could be jailed for up to a year and face a fine of up to $1,000.

Hard Not to Get Lost’ – Cormier’s Message to Struggling Dustin Poirier

Former two-division champion Cormier, who attended the same high school in Louisiana as Poirier, has now called for some empathy toward Poirier and said that the issues that Dustin is going through show the struggles that all professional athletes deal with as they adjust to retirement.

“I think that that showed how hard it is for fighters and athletes to retire,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “It’s hard to not get lost when you walk away from something that’s been so important and that truly becomes your identity.”

“I think we should have some empathy, people should be more careful to judge. Everybody loves Dustin. Dustin’s done some great things. We can’t forget the great work because of a mistake that he made. He’s not the only one. So many people struggle whenever that thing is gone,” Cormier said.

He pleaded with fans:

Dustin Poirier’s Tough Transition to Life After Fighting

Cormier admitted there were warning signs along the way that Poirier may struggle to adapt to life after fighting. In an earlier interview, the pair discussed the idea of retirement and Poirier said he didn’t know what to expect as he had been fighting since the age of 17.

“I’ve been doing this longer than I haven’t been doing this. I’ve been fighting longer than I haven’t been fighting,” Poirier said, adding that he was scared and that he didn’t know how a regular person went about life. Cormier tried to reassure him and said it would give him freedom to focus on other things.

Poirier addressed his arrest on his Instagram and said that he will get some help as he is having difficulties now that he is no longer fighting in the Octagon, having retired after losing to Max Holloway at UFC 318 last July.

“I’m at the point where I need some help. Walking away from fighting hasn’t been easy on me and alcohol isn’t the answer,” Poirier said. “It has ruined my father’s life and I will not allow it to ruin mine. My family deserve me at 100%. I’m trying to do everything I can to get my mind right and take the right next steps.”

Poirier had a storied career in the UFC spanning more than 14 years and over 30 fights. During that time, he won multiple performance bonuses and fought some of the organisation’s biggest names, including Conor McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje.