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While star winger Christian Pulisic carries the “Captain America” title of American football, one of his teammates carries the title of “most important player.”
As Pulisic struggles with a dip in form and questions about his attitude on the pitch, FOX Sports analysts and former USA players Stu Holden, Alexi Lalas and Maurice Edu debated whether Weston McKennie is indeed the heartbeat of midfield.
McKennie is coming off what some observers consider the most impressive season of his Juventus career, landing him at No. 72 in FOX Sports’ World Cup 100 Best Players.
After years of being written off by various managers and facing uncertain transfer windows, the midfielder from Little Elm, Texas has cemented his place in Turin. He recently extended his contract with Juventus, signing a new deal that will keep him at the club until June 30, 2030.
The evolution of a ‘gamer’
Holden states that McKennie is no longer just a defensive workhorse; he has become a versatile offensive threat.
“We talk about it so often that people write the guy off,” Holden noted. “Coaches come in, they don’t play him… No, the guy just signed a brand new contract at Juventus. He’s showing he can score goals and create assists. He’s a gamer.”
Edu shared a similar sentiment, noting that while there was once a debate about McKennie’s best position — whether as a late-arriving “number eight” or a more advanced forward — the argument has now shifted to his importance to the United States. It’s that versatility that puts McKennie above the No. 78-ranked Pulisic.
“He’s an asset to this team and to me he’s growing to be probably the most important player on this team,” edu said. “Now, [Pulisic] is obviously the star. He is a difference when we talk about scoring goals, winning games, going to the next stage. But Weston kind of brings this whole group together.”
Holden was quick to try to correct Edu.
“I’ll just add that he’s probably not the most important player,” Holden said of McKennie. “He is the most important player.”
A team ready to make noise
As the United States prepares to host the World Cup, Lalas believes the tournament will serve as a massive “introduction” to a casual American crowd that is about to enter the “soccer tent” for the first time.
While Pulisic is better known, Lalas suggested McKennie’s personality might actually be the more magnetic of the two.
Amidst the compare-and-contrast between the two stars, the mental makeup of the players has become a talking point. Pulisic has recently been described as “sensitive” by his own club coach, but Lalas notes that McKennie brings a different energy.
“No one would ever call Weston McKennie sensitive in the best possible way,” Lalas said.
Better than the rest?
Lalas didn’t stop at comparing McKennie to his American teammates. In a bold assessment of McKennie’s current level, Lalas ranked him above some of the world’s most heralded stars, including AC Milan’s Rafael Leão (ranked No.71).
“I agree that Weston McKennie is better than Leão,” Lalas said. “I think he is better than all the players in this group of five.”
The U.S. plays a pair of warm-up exhibitions against Senegal on May 31 and Germany on June 6 before the nation’s World Cup opener against Paraguay on June 12 in Los Angeles.
The Stars and Stripes then head to Seattle to face Australia on June 19 before closing out the group stage back in Los Angeles against Türkiye on June 25.
2026 FIFA World Cup: How to watch
The WC takes place from June 11-19. July 2026. Split across three countries, the tournament culminates with the final on July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches broadcast live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every match streaming live and on-demand within both FOX One and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 games, more than a third of the tournament, are televised in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19).
The June 11 opener between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will stream for free on Tubeas well as the USA’s opener against Paraguay on June 12 (9 p.m. ET).
