Rastall Ramblings: Alex Freeman Helps Fuel USMNT Group Stage Success

If you’re a Green Bay Packers fan, you might’ve already been aware that former wide receiver Antonio Freeman’s son plays soccer for the United State men’s national team. If you weren’t before, you surely are now after Freeman made his presence felt in a big way with the first World Cup goal of his career last Friday against Australia.

At just 21 years old, the common belief is that Alex Freeman is only scratching the surface of his potential. Yet he’s already proving to be a pivotal player in the American lineup at this summer’s World Cup and carving his own path out of his father’s shadow.

Freeman joined the Orlando City SC academy as a teenager, making his professional debut for Orlando City before moving across the Atlantic to play for La Liga club Villareal in Spain.

Last May, USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino called Freeman up to the national team to make his debut in the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The quick blossoming of his career is getting thrown into overdrive after a sparkling start to his World Cup career, where he started each of the U.S.’s first two matches despite being the youngest player on the American roster.

Freeman rewarded Pochettino’s confidence in their group stage opener, as the young defender was key contributor to a stifling performance from the Americans in their 4-1 win over Paraguay, where he also recorded an assist.

However, it was the 2-0 win over Australia where Freeman grabbed headlines with his first-half goal in the 43rd minute that extended the American advantage to two goals.

Just minutes earlier, Freeman was part of a nasty head-to-head collision that left him in a heap on the field. After clearing the concussion check by trainers, Freeman stayed in the game and scored his goal.

Though that goal was initially ruled offside, the video assistant referee (VAR) overturned that decision and let the goal stand — the defining moment of a match where the Americans got their win despite being without injured captain Christian Pulisic.

Having already clinched their group before playing their third final match, the Americans are showing a form that’s as good as any U.S. men’s national team has ever exhibited. That naturally has plenty of U.S. fans dreaming of winning at least a couple matches in the knockout stages to make this home soil World Cup one to never forget.

If that sort of prolonged stay is in the cards, the son of a Super Bowl XXXI champion and Packers Hall of Fame inductee will be a huge reason why.