Mathis Albert has made USMNT history just days into his senior international career, becoming the youngest player to score for the United States in a 4-2 friendly win over Chile.
The Borussia Dortmund teenager came off the bench and struck in stoppage time to seal the victory in St. Louis, scoring at just 17 years and 131 days old.
Albert's goal moved him past Christian Pulisic, who had held the record since scoring against Bolivia in 2016 at 17 years and 253 days. The teenager reacted quickest to a loose ball from a free-kick situation, with his effort hitting the crossbar before crossing the line.
The milestone caps a remarkable few months for Albert. After joining Dortmund's academy in 2024, the South Carolina native became the youngest American to make his Bundesliga debut earlier this year. He made his senior USMNT debut against Peru just days before facing Chile and had already made an impact by winning a penalty shortly after coming on in that 4-1 victory.
Source: The Sporting News
His latest appearance provided another glimpse of why Dortmund have been keen to keep him around the first team despite interest from clubs seeking a loan move during the summer.
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino has also backed the decision to introduce a new generation of young players, saying the teenagers being called up are mature enough to compete at senior level.
Albert was not the only teenager to make his mark against Chile. Julian Hall scored for the second consecutive international match, while Sebastian Berhalter and Chris Richards also found the net as the United States recovered from briefly falling behind.
Chile had taken a 2-1 lead through goals from Diego Ulloa and Maximiliano Gutierrez, but Hall's second-half header levelled the score before Richards restored the USMNT's advantage.
The match ended with tempers flaring after a late challenge sparked a confrontation involving players and coaching staff from both teams. Despite the chaotic finish, the United States held on for another win as Pochettino continues to assess a younger group following the World Cup.
For Albert, however, the night belonged to one historic moment. His first international goal has already placed his name ahead of Pulisic in the USMNT record books, giving the Dortmund youngster a remarkable start to his senior career.
