Player evaluations: Pulisic receives 3/10 in USMNT’s defeat against Portugal

The United States men’s national team suffered a 2-0 defeat to Portugal in a friendly match held at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Tuesday.

Following a competitive opening phase for both teams, the visitors gained the upper hand in the 37th minute when Francisco Trincão placed a shot past American goalkeeper Matt Freese. In response, the U.S. maintained its offensive pressure but was unable to convert any of their chances before halftime.

After the break, Portugal extended their advantage. In the 59th minute, João Félix struck a well-timed shot from outside the box, making it 2-0 in favor of Portugal. The visitors gained confidence following several substitutions in the second half, and although they did not score again, their performance was sufficient to secure the 2-0 result by the final whistle.

U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino and his team will now begin their final preparations for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer. Pochettino is anticipated to announce his squad for the tournament in May.

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Manager rating out of 10

Mauricio Pochettino, 5 — Glass half full: The U.S. displayed dynamism after implementing six changes from their previous lineup and generated several opportunities in the attacking third. Glass half empty: The choice to position Christian Pulisic as a striker proved to be a misstep, and during his lackluster performance, the team struggled to be as effective offensively as required.

There were fleeting moments of brilliance for the USMNT that contributed to an engaging start to the friendly, but it is also an unusual time for Pochettino to experiment just before finalizing his World Cup roster.

Player ratings (0-10; 10 = best, 5 = average)

GK Matt Freese, 6 — There was little he could do to prevent Portugal’s two goals, yet he still allowed those shots to find the net. An early save from a Bruno Fernandes attempt, along with denying a powerful shot from Nuno Mendes in the second half, will be noted in his highlight reel.

DF Antonee Robinson, 6 — Defensively sound, he posed a threat going forward and unleashed a powerful shot from distance. While he was not as involved as in his last match, he still demonstrated why he is a key player for the U.S.

DF Chris Richards, 6 — After the captain made an early error with a poorly timed pass, he quickly rebounded with a strong presence in defense. It wasn’t a flawless 90-plus minutes, but his interventions were crucial in limiting the opponents to just two goals.

DF Alex Freeman, 7 — The youngest player in the starting XI may have secured a spot in the lineup. Freeman made impressive forward runs, executed notable tackles, and dribbled effectively in the attacking third.

MF Sebastian Berhalter, 5 — A solid all-around performance for the midfielder, who occasionally struggled to keep pace with Portugal. A long-range shot showcased his early confidence, as did some lofted passes forward.

MF Aidan Morris, 4 — Morris left gaps that allowed Portugal to create their first goal and notably jogged back when he could have intervened against Trincão. His tackles and distributions improved as the match progressed, but the initial mistake was significant for the USMNT.

AM Timothy Weah, 5 — Weah was intermittently involved in pressing the opponent, but it was evident that more was expected from the winger, who needed to take more initiative. He won only one of his five duels.

AM Malik Tillman, 7 — A promising outing for the young player. He was very active with his key passes, chance creation, and intelligent movement with the ball. The energetic starter was arguably the best American on the pitch.

AM Weston McKennie, 5 — Connected well with the forward line and won an important foul in a dangerous area. At times he was less involved in the first half, but this did not diminish his status as a key player for the USMNT.

FW Christian Pulisic, 3 — Marked by his frustration that led to an unnecessary yellow card, it was a challenging night for the attacker, who made questionable decisions while playing as a striker. Despite it not being his natural position, he was unable to capitalize on his opportunities.

Substitutes (players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

FW Patrick Agyemang, 7 — A more effective focal point in the striker role than Pulisic. He helped regain possession and delivered several impressive passes in the attacking third.

DF Max Arfsten, 5 — His passing on the left flank could have been improved, and it is difficult to assert that he is a better option than Robinson at left back.

MF Tanner Tessmann, 5 — Not poor going forward with the ball, though more was anticipated from him defensively.

DF Joe Scally, 4 — Did not make a significant impact during his limited time on the field.

FW Folarin Balogun, 5 — Similar to Scally, he had little time to make an impression on the match, but he did provide a couple of good passes and runs.

MF Cristian Roldan, N/A — Substituted in during the 79th minute.

AM Gio Reyna, N/A — Substituted in during the 79th minute.

AM Brenden Aaronson, N/A — Substituted in during the 79th minute.

DF Mark McKenzie, N/A — Substituted in during the 91st minute.