During a friendly against Italy on Tuesday, Christian Pulisic recorded a pretty special achievement, although it’s also something of a non-event: At the age of 20 years and 63 days, he became the youngest captain in the history of the USMNT. Pulisic eclipsed the previous mark set by Landon Donovan, who led out the side at the age of 22 years and 220 days.
It’s an important mark in the Anglosphere because we have a strange fetish with the captaincy — we equate it to Hollywood-inspired notions of bravado and a requisite marshaling of the troops. It’s also a non-event because in many football mad countries, like Italy and Spain, they simply don’t give a shit, and this is probably the better approach to take.
Our young squad will be led by the youngest #USMNT captain in the modern era tonight: @cpulisic_10 pic.twitter.com/bgtHHvsbp8
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@ussoccer_mnt) November 20, 2018
Regardless, here’s how Pulisic’s achievement compares to some other notable players/countries in world football:
Youngest International Soccer Captains
Zé Elias, Brazil: 19 years and two days
Aaron Ramsey, Wales: 20 years and 90 days
Darren Fletcher, Scotland: 20 years and 115 days
Julian Draxler, Germany: 20 years and 235 days
Dolf Kessler, Netherlands: 21 years and 28 days
Raphael Varane, France: 21 years and 172 days
Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal: 22 years and one day
Bobby Moore, England: 22 years and 47 days
Michael Owen, England: 22 years and 100 days
Neymar, Brazil: 23 years and 22 days
Lionel Messi, Argentina: 23 years and 343 days
As you can see, Pulisic is the best footballer on the planet. Now if someone could just pass him the damn ball.
Don't mind me, I'm just saying if your head is up and you play an early first time ball into space for Pulisic to run on to (right when Pulisic is calling for it, btw), then you have that back post run but it's almost Thanksgiving so I'm trying to be thankful. pic.twitter.com/iKhwA42PVB
— Miriti Murungi (@NutmegRadio) November 20, 2018
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