It’s not every day that a national team coach draws a line connecting one of his players to Lionel Messi, the most decorated soccer player of the modern era. But Mauricio Pochettino did just that—deliberately and without hesitation.

Mauricio Pochettino Wants Christian Pulisic to Emulate Lionel Messi for USMNT originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Lionel Messi is arguably one of the greatest Soccer players in history. He currently plies his trade for MLS club Inter Miami.

The AC Milan attacking star and his club teammate will join the slew of key U.S. players not competing at the Gold Cup this summer