<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/christian-pulisic/">Christian Pulisic</a> has enjoyed his best start to a season yet, both with the USMNT and AC Milan, not just by scoring goals and providing assists, but also by establishing himself as a leader in the attack. Now firmly entrenched in soccer’s elite, a <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/world-cup/">World Cup</a> winner and former Borussia Dortmund teammate spoke on Pulisic’s growth over the years.



Making the leap from Pennsylvania Classics to Dortmund in 2015 at just 17, Pulisic had the chance to share the locker room with multiple stars — including <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/roman-weidenfeller/">Roman Weidenfeller</a>. The German goalkeeper, part of Germany’s 2014 World Cup-winning squad, became a club legend at Borussia Dortmund and witnessed the American star’s first steps in Europe’s top flight.



<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/soccer/exclusive-roman-weidenfeller-on-borussia-dortmund-the-2014-world-cup-pulisic-messi-ronaldo-and-more">In an exclusive interview with Bolavip</a>, Weidenfeller spoke candidly about Pulisic’s early days in Dortmund’s youth system and first team: “Look, I first met him when he was a kid and joined Borussia Dortmund. It was the first time he came to a professional team to train and I saw how talented he was. He was very fast, he had perfect technique. He had a great nose for the situation to create a shot. He’s a great player.“



Pulisic made his debut in the Bundesliga game against FC Ingolstadt 04 on January 30, 2016, coming on in the 68th minute for striker Adrián Ramos. A month later, he made his UEFA Europa League debut. By the time he left for Chelsea in January 2019 for €64 million, he had played 127 games for <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/borussia-dortmund/">Dortmund</a>, scoring 19 goals and providing 26 assists.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20251013_WST_596738_roma-weidenfeller-1200x675_2a1ff065.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="Roman Weidenfeller at the Annual Meeting of The Friends of The National Team." class="wp-image-596757" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure><figcaption>Roman Weidenfeller at the Annual Meeting of The Friends of The National Team.</figcaption></figure>



Weidenfeller also addressed Pulisic’s current stature and potential. “So I feel, right now, he is big and he can organize himself in the future. Just recently, he won the Champions League, which I didn’t win.“ he said with a laugh. “So I have a lot of respect for Christian. He is one of the best American soccer players. Now, he has joined AC Milan. He has had a great career, and I hope that in the future, he will be healthy enough and can stay in sports for a long time,” he concluded.


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Weidenfeller retired in 2018 after 16 years guarding Dortmund’s goal, with the 2013-14 Champions League final loss to Bayern Munich among his most iconic moments. Now a club ambassador, he continues to watch the potential he saw in Pulisic come to fruition.



<h2>Pulisic awarded Serie A Player of the Month</h2>



Pulisic’s stellar form in the 2025-26 season has earned him recognition beyond just results. For September, the AC Milan star was named Serie A Player of the Month, the second time he has won the award, the first being in December 2023.



The award followed his performances against Bologna, Udinese, and Napoli, where he tallied three goals and two assists, helping Milan climb to the top of the league standings. Pulisic expressed his gratitude on social media after outshining competitors including Ricardo Orsolini (Bologna), Nikola Krstović (Atalanta), Kevin De Bruyne (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter), and Federico Baschirotto (Cremonese) in the voting.

World Cup winner and former Borussia Dortmund teammate weighs in on Christian Pulisic’s evolution

World Cup winner and former Borussia Dortmund teammate weighs in on Christian Pulisic’s evolution - World Soccer Talk

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The debate surrounding soccer’s greatest of all time—Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi—has echoed across stadiums, panel discussions, and social media threads for nearly two decades. These two titans of the sport have reshaped modern soccer with breathtaking consistency, winning every conceivable title while breaking records once deemed untouchable. But for one legendary figure, the choice between the two is clear.



It’s not just about goals, assists, or Ballon d’Ors. It’s about something deeper—something a World Cup winner experienced firsthand in the pressure cooker of elite competition. And when this goalkeeper finally revealed his answer, it was rooted in more than admiration—it came from&nbsp;painful personal experience.



<h2>The face of relentlessness</h2>



In an interview with&nbsp;The Hindu,&nbsp;Roman Weidenfeller, a former&nbsp;Borussia Dortmund&nbsp;and&nbsp;Germany&nbsp;goalkeeper who lifted the World Cup in 2014, revealed that&nbsp;Cristiano Ronaldo&nbsp;was the&nbsp;toughest opponent&nbsp;he ever faced.



“Cristiano Ronaldo was incredibly difficult to read because of his relentless work ethic and confidence,”&nbsp;said Weidenfeller.&nbsp;“I played against him many times, at Real Madrid and later at Juventus.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20250510_WST_569147_Cristiano-Ronaldo-7-1200x675_88a20955.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="Cristiano Ronaldo" class="wp-image-566572" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/22155315/Cristiano-Ronaldo-7-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/22155315/Cristiano-Ronaldo-7-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/22155315/Cristiano-Ronaldo-7-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/22155315/Cristiano-Ronaldo-7-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/22155315/Cristiano-Ronaldo-7-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/22155315/Cristiano-Ronaldo-7-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/22155315/Cristiano-Ronaldo-7-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/22155315/Cristiano-Ronaldo-7.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



While Messi’s brilliance is universally acknowledged, Weidenfeller made a strong case for Ronaldo being on a different level—not just in raw talent, but in his psychological and physical dominance.



“I’ve played against many strong strikers, like Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, and others. But Ronaldo stands out. He’s always the first in the dressing room, working hard in the gym and on the pitch, and the last to leave. His dedication has kept him at the top for so long.”



The former veteran shot-stopper’s words carry weight, not just as a spectator or pundit, but as someone who faced Ronaldo on multiple occasions in the&nbsp;UEFA Champions League, including some high-stakes matchups between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20250510_WST_569147_lionel-messi-inter-miami-1-1200x675_c82bf636.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="Inter Miami and New York Red Bulls are going to face each other for the 2025 MLS, and Lionel Messi&apos;s side will be looking forward to jump back after being eliminated from the Champions Cup." class="wp-image-567626" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/28120656/lionel-messi-inter-miami-1-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/28120656/lionel-messi-inter-miami-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/28120656/lionel-messi-inter-miami-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/28120656/lionel-messi-inter-miami-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/28120656/lionel-messi-inter-miami-1-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/28120656/lionel-messi-inter-miami-1-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/28120656/lionel-messi-inter-miami-1-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/28120656/lionel-messi-inter-miami-1.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<h2>What truly sets Ronaldo apart</h2>



Interestingly, the former German international&nbsp;never faced Messi&nbsp;in a competitive match, something confirmed by&nbsp;Transfermarkt. That fact doesn’t diminish Messi’s greatness, but it does explain why Weidenfeller’s choice comes from lived experience rather than comparison at face value. What stood out for him wasn’t just the Portuguese’s thunderous free-kicks or aerial prowess—it was the&nbsp;mindset.



Ronaldo, now&nbsp;40 years old, remains a prolific scorer for&nbsp;Al-Nassr&nbsp;in the&nbsp;Saudi Pro League, with&nbsp;33 goals and four assists in 39 appearances&nbsp;this season. Even in the twilight of his career, he’s maintained a level of form that most players half his age would envy. “His dedication has kept him at the top for so long, and now he’s continuing his career in Saudi Arabia,”&nbsp;Weidenfeller added.

Why Cristiano Ronaldo and not Lionel Messi: World Cup winner explains his GOAT choice – and it’s fierce

Why Cristiano Ronaldo and not Lionel Messi: World Cup winner explains his GOAT choice – and it’s fierce - World Soccer Talk

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World Cup winner and former Borussia Dortmund teammate weighs in on Christian Pulisic’s evolution

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Why Cristiano Ronaldo and not Lionel Messi: World Cup winner explains his GOAT choice – and it’s fierce