Mathis Albert sets USMNT record, but could it be short-lived?
By Billy McGee (@iambillymcgee)
Mathis Albert made USMNT history on Tuesday against Chile with his stoppage-time goal. The manner of the goal itself was not anything special, as he put away a chance created by an Antonee Robinson free kick that was heading back into the six-yard box by Tyler Adams; rather, what was special about it is his age, becoming the USMNT’s youngest goal scorer in the modern era at 17 years and 131 days, breaking the record set by Christian Pulisic when he was just 17 years and 253 days old.
Albert, a Greenville, SC native, also became the youngest American to play in the Bundesliga, making his debut for Borussia Dortmund against SC Freiburg earlier this year at 16 years and 340 days old, breaking the record of fellow United States international Gio Reyna.
This current USMNT roster is ripe with young talent, not just Albert. Alongside him are seven other teenagers: 18-year-old Julian Hall has recorded two goals and an assist so far in the international break, and 19-year-old Justin Ellis got the start and scored the first goal for the United States in their match against Peru. Outside of the goal scorers, there are also 17-year-old Cavan Sullivan, 17-year-old Adri Mehmeti, 18-year-old Neil Pierre, 18-year-old Peyton Miller, and 19-year-old Zavier Gozo.
The record is still not safe for the time being, with Cavan Sullivan having a couple of opportunities to break the record himself, as the USMNT takes on Mexico on Saturday, October 3, and Canada on Tuesday, October 6.
