Tim Howard’s Advice for Christian Pulisic

Tim Howard, the former US Men’s National Team goalkeeper, has a simple wish for Christian Pulisic: “For his sake, I hope he stays off social media for a while.” This comment comes after Pulisic faced intense backlash following the USMNT’s World Cup Round of 16 defeat to Belgium.

“He needs a break. Maybe go on vacation or something? Fame has its darker sides,” Howard added during a discussion on the podcast “Unfiltered Soccer.”

Pulisic, who has been a prominent figure for the team, has received considerable criticism, especially for his performance just recently in the World Cup. The 27-year-old missed a group stage match due to a calf injury and managed only one assist. Unfortunately, he exited the game against Belgium with an ankle injury during the 59th minute.

In a loss where teamwork was crucial, goalkeeper Matt Frees had an unfortunate misstep that allowed Belgium to extend their lead. Nonetheless, star players are expected to step up and, well, Pulisic’s performance hasn’t met those expectations during this tournament.

Carli Lloyd, a former Women’s star, expressed her disappointment in Pulisic’s showing, while Howard’s co-host, Landon Donovan, commented that “Pulisic is who he is.” Meanwhile, FOX Sports commentator Nick Wright noted that Pulisic seemed to “beg” out of the match, and Colin Cowherd went as far as to label him a “light player” who is “always fragile.” It seems this kind of scrutiny wouldn’t typically be directed at other USMNT stars.

Additionally, Pulisic’s exit from the game due to injury elicited further criticism, with Donovan remarking that he had to be physically assisted off the field.

Howard highlighted the weight of responsibility that comes with being a standout player: “To whom much is given, much is required. He is the face of this team and is undoubtedly our best player. With that comes praise, but also blame.” This situation raises questions about what the USMNT can achieve with him leading the squad.

This is Pulisic’s third time representing the national team, but the US failed to qualify in 2018 and has been ousted in the last 16 rounds of the recent tournaments.

When the next World Cup rolls around, Pulisic will be 31, and one has to wonder—will Father Time impact his ability to guide the team beyond the Round of 16?

In Howard’s view, “When someone talks about themselves or shows themselves, people believe it. I think he’s a great football player. I still think he’s the best player on the team.”