COMMENT: Chelsea fans would've been delighted watching Christian Pulisic score a hat-trick against Burnley on Sunday.
Chelsea players Fiyako Tomori and Cesar Azpilicueta certainly were, both stating that Pulisic's hard work in training lead to the stunning performance.
As was Frank Lampard, rewarded for handing Pulisic his first Premier League start since the end of August, and who also repeated the sentiments of Tomori and Azpilicueta.
But not one group nor person was more excited than fans of the United States men's national team.
You see, Pulisic is kind of a big deal in American 'soccer'…
After breaking into the Borussia Dortmund first-team as a 16-year-old, Jurgen Klinsmann handed Pulisic his senior international debut against Guatemala in March 2016 to make him the youngest American to play a World Cup qualifier.
The appearance begun a long list of broken records for Pulisic; the youngest to score for the US in the modern era, youngest person to score in a World Cup Qualifier for the U.S, the youngest player ever to score a brace in U.S. history, and the most expensive American of all-time when Chelsea paid Dortmund around £53m for his signature in January.
As the USMNT's leader, best player and talisman, it was Pulisic who wore plenty of criticism when they failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup after a loss to Trinidad and Tobago, widely described as the lowest point in US football history.
It hasn't gotten any better from there for the 2002 World Cup quarter-finalists. Mexico defeated them in the Gold Cup final in June and only two weeks there was the historic loss to Canada.
Pulisic was poor during the 2-0 defeat in Toronto and was filmed in tears on the bench after being substituted in the second-half.
So it was no surprise that the country's biggest sports broadcaster ESPN expressed their utter joy over Pulisic's big day at Turf Moor.
10/15 – Pulisic subbed off for the USMNT during their loss to Canada
10/26 – Pulisic scores his first career hat trick
What a difference two weeks makes. pic.twitter.com/eVEZVLFSOh
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 26, 2019
21-year-old Christian Pulisic is the youngest Chelsea player to score a Premier League hat trick (via @ESPNFC) pic.twitter.com/8ydvK6oYjW
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 26, 2019
UNBELIEVABLE.
Christian Pulisic scores his first career hat trick pic.twitter.com/Kg508VIdO0
— ESPN (@espn) October 26, 2019
Two Pulisic goals in the first half.
U.S. soccer fans right now:pic.twitter.com/qSuAiJU04Z
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 26, 2019
Perhaps the most telling Tweet was one comparing Pulisic with Michael Jordan, widely considered as the greatest basketballer of all-time.
Basketball, American Football, and Baseball dominate the U.S sports landscape, and the superstars and world-class talents within them are coveted, celebrated and put on an planetary pedestal. Think Jordan, Babe Ruth, Tom Brady.
It's true that American soccer and the MLS have grown in the market in recent years despite the failures of USMNT. But they have never possessed that otherworldly talent, one which they could hold up to the footballing giants. It is the Europeans and South Americans who are seen as the best, with the U.S one of those footballing nations playing perpetual catch-up.
Christian Pulisic scored his first career hat trick!
He pulled out the Michael Jordan shrug pic.twitter.com/gLGIMRNiKj
— SportsNation (@SportsNation) October 26, 2019
Of course, there have been Americans who have played in the Premier League before; Clint Dempsey was a star with Fulham, as was Brian McBride and Carlos Bocanegra. Goalkeepers Tim Howard, Brad Friedel, Kasey Keller, and Brad Guzan were all stalwarts for their clubs.
But none of them dominated at one of the Premier League's top clubs, none of them were bought for £53m, and none of them were definitive superstars.
The only two Americans with Premier League hat tricks: Clint Dempsey and Christian Pulisicpic.twitter.com/2er4mUKZ7l
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 26, 2019
There are other promising signs for USMNT; Weston McKennie has shown he can become the midfield star they desperately need with his performances at Schalke; Werder Bremen are reaping the rewards of 20-year-old Josh Sargent and his mercurial talent; Tyler Adams made a breakthrough with RB Leipzig last season.
But Pulisic has performed this well with Chelsea, winners of 5 Premier League titles and the Champions League since 2005, with a supporter-base in every corner of the globe.
While it is only one game, Pulisic showed against Burnley that he has the potential to be a superstar for the Blues, but more pertinently, for a lost national team and their tens of millions of supporters.
