Pulisic's legacy-defining moment is here. Donovan knows what's at stake - ESPN

Among the television promos hyping this summer's FIFA World Cup, there's one that shows a montage of soccer's greatest talents. There's Argentina's Lionel Messi, France's Kylian Mbappé, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, Spain's Lamine Yamal and England's Jude Bellingham. The last image is that of U.S. men's national team attacker Christian Pulisic.

Pulisic is talented in his own right and is clearly the USMNT's brightest talent — his 33 international goals already rank fifth all-time in program history. Ahead of a World Cup being co-hosted by the U.S., it makes sense to remind the sporting public that the USMNT has players to watch too, but one wouldn't normally group the Hershey, Penn. native with the other five leading lights. Pulisic is a star, yes, but each of those names is a supernova.

Pulisic isn't the one making that comparison, nor did he ask for it, yet the juxtaposition speaks to the expectations, pressure and opportunity facing him this summer.

He is the Americans' brightest talent, he is arguably the greatest player in the program's history, and at the age of 27, he is at the height of his powers. This World Cup, then, played on home soil in front of friends and family, will define Pulisic's legacy.

And so, when the whistle blows on June 12 at the USMNT's opener against Paraguay, he will stride forward as the face of the team, eager to lead the U.S. to places it has rarely been before: a berth in the quarterfinals, maybe even beyond.

He won't be by himself, of course. He'll have teammates and coaches and support staff alongside him, doing their utmost to reach their common goal of a deep tournament run. But when it comes to the expectations of a nation eager to make a real impact at this World Cup, it is Pulisic