Pulisic’s record stood for ten years, and 17-year-old Mathis Albert broke it as the US beat Chile 4-2
The Dortmund forward became the youngest scorer in USMNT history in stoppage time in St. Louis, on the night Tim Ream said goodbye.
Sep 30, 2026
Christian Pulisic was 17 years and 253 days old when he scored against Bolivia in 2016, and that stood as the youngest goal in US men’s history for ten years. Mathis Albert has just beaten it by 122 days. The Borussia Dortmund forward, 17 years and 131 days old, scored three minutes into stoppage time at Energizer Park in St. Louis on 29 September to finish off a 4-2 win over Chile.
It was not a clean finish. Albert redirected Auston Trusty’s pass up into the crossbar, and the ball bounced down just over the goal line. The crowd of 21,680 did not mind.
Chile led early in the second half
Mauricio Pochettino had picked the youngest starting line-up of his time in charge, at an average age of 23 years and 25 days, and for a while it showed. Sebastian Berhalter gave the US the lead in the 37th minute from a Sergiño Dest assist, and Chile equalised a minute into first-half stoppage time through Diego Ulloa. Maximiliano Gutiérrez then put Chile ahead four minutes after the break.
That lead lasted two minutes. Gio Reyna set up Julian Hall in the 51st, and Chris Richards, nine minutes after coming on, headed Berhalter’s corner in at the near post in the 72nd. Albert’s goal settled it. Chile won 13 corners to the US’s five and had eight shots on target to their nine, so this was closer than the final score says.
Hall and Berhalter keep scoring
Hall is 18 and made his debut against Peru in Orlando on 26 September, scoring in a 4-1 win. With this goal he became the youngest player to score in each of his first two US appearances. Berhalter also came off the bench to score against Peru, so he has two in two.
Pochettino needed a window like this. The US went out of their home World Cup in the round of 16, beaten 4-1 by Belgium, and he handed 11 players their debuts against Peru. Two wins and eight goals later, some of them look ready.
Ream says goodbye in his hometown
The night started with Tim Ream. The 38-year-old defender, who captained the US at the World Cup, announced his international retirement before kick-off in St. Louis, where he grew up, after 86 caps. “I’m proud of being part of something for 16 years, but it is time to step away from the national team,” he said. He will carry on playing for Charlotte FC in MLS. Antonee Robinson wore the armband against Chile, his first time captaining the side.
The US play Mexico in Glendale, Arizona, on Saturday, 3 October.