Christian Pulisic was born on September 18, 1998, in Hershey, Pennsylvania. He moved to Germany before his 16th birthday to join Borussia Dortmund's academy, progressing through the youth ranks so quickly that he appeared in only 15 youth games before being called up to the first team in January 2016, aged 17. He made his Bundesliga debut that same month and went on to score two goals that season, becoming the youngest non-German player to score in the German top flight at the time. He was part of the Dortmund side that won the 2016–17 DFB-Pokal, and his consistent performances earned him a runner-up finish in the 2018 Kopa Trophy.
In January 2019, Pulisic signed for Chelsea in a transfer worth around £58 million, making him the most expensive North American player in history. His debut season included a hat-trick against Burnley and a goal in the FA Cup Final against Arsenal. The following season brought his most significant honour at club level, as he became the first American to play in a UEFA Champions League final when Chelsea beat Manchester City in May 2021. He subsequently won the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2021–22.
A direct, hard-running winger with an eye for goal and an ability to create chances from wide positions, Pulisic moved to AC Milan in June 2023, where he has continued to be a regular contributor in Serie A.
For the United States national team, Pulisic made his senior debut in March 2016 and has accumulated 82 caps, scoring 32 goals. He has won the CONCACAF Nations League three times and holds four U.S. Soccer Player of the Year awards.