Christian Pulisic Leads U.S. Soccer’s Top Earners at 2026 World Cup with $27.5 Million in Earnings Christian Pulisic, the 27-year-old American soccer star, has emerged as the highest-paid U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) player ahead of the 2026 World Cup, with an estimated total compensation of $27.5 million over the past 12 months. This figure includes both on-field earnings from his contract with AC Milan and off-field income from a vast array of brand partnerships. Pulisic’s off-field earnings alone amount to $20 million, driven by collaborations with major corporations such as McDonald’s, Pepsi, AT&T, Puma, and recent ventures into consumer-packaged goods like Ritz crackers, Chips Ahoy! cookies, and Sour Patch Kids candy. His growing commercial appeal was further highlighted by a recent Michelob Ultra commercial featuring Argentina’s Lionel Messi. On the field, Pulisic earned approximately $7.5 million from his AC Milan contract, which was secured in 2023 for a transfer fee of up to $24.2 million. This level of financial success contrasts sharply with the earnings of earlier generations of U.S. players. For instance, Clint Dempsey, the retired star who led the USMNT’s top earners at the 2014 World Cup, earned around $7.8 million from his MLS contract with Seattle Sounders but only about $2 million from off-field ventures, totaling roughly $10 million. The gap between on-field and off-field earnings has widened dramatically over the past decade, reflecting the explosive growth of soccer’s commercial appeal in the U.S. The 2026 World Cup, set to be held on North American soil for the first time in over three decades, has catalyzed a surge in brand interest in American soccer players. Kerry Bradley, senior vice president of strategy at Horizon Sports & Experiences, noted that the commercial case for soccer in the U.S.#mcdonalds #ac_milan #usmnt #christian_pulisic #pepsi
