<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

<div><figure class="image"></figure></div>
Hamburg shook off their early season funk and tore apart Dortmund at the Nordbank Arena. It was the 4th straight victory for the Dinosaurs at home against BVB. A series of early goals seemed to settle the match by the 12th minute. Guy Demel pushed the first over the line after a massive keeper error in the 4th. Ze Roberto found a gap, a post and a rebound for the 2nd in the 10th and Guerrero finished, after a blistering run by Elia in the 12th. Dortmund who scored an equalizer after the first goal, when Hamburg were guilty of a lack of concentration never seemed up to the fight after Elia’s run and would conceed a 4th late in the game. 
For Dortmund’s Jurgen Klopp, he at least escaped Hamburg without a fine this year. And that’s about the only positive thing that can be said for his team’s performance. 
7 Notes About the Match
<ol>
<li>
I think Hamburg were a little guilty of what English clubs do in the UEFA Cup/Europa League. They didn’t take the second leg of their tie with Randers seriously, having a 4-0 road victory in hand. They then let themselves get complacent, which happens when teams don’t take a game seriously. They then went out and lost at home to Randers, barely scraped by Fortuna Dusseldorf and put in a pedestrian performance against Freiburg to start the season. Aston Villa last year and Tottenham two years ago never seemed to recover. This week in their first home game of the season, they seemed to get over their slump and thus the change in Fortuna.</li>
<li>This must be the best-rounded midfield Hamburg has had in a while. With Eljera Elia being an excellent left wing, Piotr Trochowski back in a more natural RW position, Ze Roberto as the runner and Jarolim as the holder, this midfield is perfectly balanced. It seems even better than when van der Vaart was there with De Jong behind him, because they didn’t have such good wingers at the time. Jarolim and Ze Roberto overwhelmed the Dortmund midfield.</li>
<li>Part of this was Sahin. Unlike last week, he seemed absent as Kehl’s replacement. Had the captain been out there, I don’t think Hamburg would have had such dominance in attack. Sahin didn’t show up until the 29’ minute and that was for a shot on goal. </li>
<li>Roman Weidenfeller’s error on the first goal was ridiculous by the standards of ridiculous keeper gaffs. He came out for a cross and pulled away from it. It took more effort to stop himself punching the ball to safety than to carry through with his initial moment. He’s never came off to me as shaky on crosses, like Neuer, but maybe it’s time to reevaluate. </li>
<li>Marcus Berg (who has also scored today) had good movement and looks to be another great addition to the Dinosaurs. On the final goal, it was his pressure on Santana that forced and errant clearance, which Ze Roberto one-timed for an effort on goal. Weidenfeller got to the ball but parried it in front of goal, where Berg was ready to pounce, splitting Schmelzer and Santana.</li>
<li>This is the second week in a row that a tactical decision by Horst Hrubesch at the U21’s in Sweden seems to have made an impact on a Bundesliga coach (last week I mentioned Hummels). Jerome Boateng, who had played mostly as a fullback, was given a job in the center for the winning German team. Labbadia is now playing Boateng, who had a solid game, at center-half too, despite spending money on Rozenthal during the summer. </li>
<li>I’ll admit that I allowed Ze Roberto’s age to cloud my judgment. I dismissed his move to Hamburg, rating is as interesting rather than significant. I couldn’t have been more wrong as he is just ageless. And I think Bayern Munich will indeed regret not granting him a two-year extension. He was wonderful against Dortmund, with his goal coming out of sheer determination. He also set up Berg’s and should have aided Elia in the 38’ on another. </li>
</ol>
<div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" style="width:0px;height:0px" border="0" width="0" height="0" src="https:\/\/ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https:\/\/images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20090820_WST_73645_bT*xJmx*PTEyNTA4MDI5NDM5MjEmcHQ9MTI1MDgwMjk*ODA3OCZwPTIzNDQ3MSZkPSZnPTEmbz1lYjQ4NGQyOGFmNWQ*YTBjYTg2ZWM*ODRhN2EwYzE5MA==.webp&amp;width=0&amp;height=0"></figure></div> <a href="http:\/\/tinypic.com/player.php?v=2j26t5k&amp;s=3">Original Video</a> – More videos at <a href="http:\/\/tinypic.com">TinyPic</a>

The Set: Hamburg 4 – 1 Borussia Dortmund - World Soccer Talk

The Set: Hamburg 4 – 1 Borussia Dortmund

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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

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The Set: Hamburg 4 – 1 Borussia Dortmund