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Christian Pulisic receives Golden Boy award nomination

By Michael Harshbarger

Christian Pulisic of Borussia Dortmundduring Champion League Group H match between Tottenham Hotspur against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley stadium, London, UK on 13 Sepember 2017. Tottenham won the game 3-1. (Photo by Kieran Galvin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Christian Pulisic of Borussia Dortmundduring Champion League Group H match between Tottenham Hotspur against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley stadium, London, UK on 13 Sepember 2017. Tottenham won the game 3-1. (Photo by Kieran Galvin/NurPhoto via Getty Images) /
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Christian Pulisic was nominated along with other top young European players for the 2017 Golden Boy award.

American Christian Pulisic was among 25 players nominated for the 2017 Golden Boy award. The winner, selected by 30 journalists, is considered the most impressive European-based soccer player under the age of 21.

The award is not, if you were wondering, sponsored by or in any way involved with Oscar De La Hoya.

Although the Golden Boy award may not be the most prestigious recognition in world soccer, it’s more proof of the impact Pulisic is having for his club, Borussia Dortmund, and the U.S. national team. He has appeared in 61 matches for Dortmund, scoring nine goals and adding 14 assists. The 19-year-old has already scored seven goals for the Yanks in just 18 caps.

Pulisic is in pristine company as Kylian Mbappe, Marcus Rashford, Ousmane Dembele and Gabriel Jesus also received nominations. Those are huge names. For Pulisic to be considered for the same award as those players is an impressive accomplishment.

Already tasked with leading the USMNT attack, the Hershey, Pennsylvania, native has also been asked to take on more responsibility for his club this Bundesliga season after Dembele departed BVB for PSG. That all sounds like a lot for a player so young, but Pulisic has shown no signs of strain under the increasing expectations.

His lackluster showing against Costa Rica was an inevitability — he can’t be perfect every time he takes the field. But it also served to show just how good he has been that a poor performance from him is so glaring.

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Pulisic surely won’t win this award. I’m not even sure he would want an award with such a ridiculous name. But it’s great to see the continued appreciation of the young American by the European press.

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