'His potential is huge, but he’s already a great player' - Luka Modrić praises USMNT's Christian Pulisic's impact at AC Milan

Modric praised Pulisic's ability and potential as well as his intelligence and revealed how much fun it is to play alongside him.

“Christian is a great guy first of all," Modric told CBS Sports Golazo. "As a football player, his potential is huge, but he’s already a great player. He demonstrated it for such a long time at Dortmund, then at Chelsea and now at Milan. He’s very skillful, quick, and he understands football well. It’s a joy to play with him.”

Modric's comments are notable considering his legendary success at Tottenham and Real Madrid and the star teammates he's previously played with. The 2018 Ballon D'Or winner has lifted 28 trophies and starred alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe, among others. 

Modric also touched upon Pulisic’s Croatian roots but admitted that while the American knows a few swear words, the two haven’t tried to converse in Croatian yet.

“I think he used to play with some Croatian players who taught him some words that aren’t for the camera," Modrić said. "So far, we haven’t tried to speak much Croatian but maybe in the future.”

The Croatian's evaluation of Pulisic's development aligns with the American's career progression through European football's elite clubs. After emerging at Borussia Dortmund as a teenage prodigy, Pulisic faced challenges during his Chelsea tenure before finding consistent form at Milan, where he has established himself as an indispensable starter since his 2023 arrival. That has been echoed by his form this season, where the American has been one of the reasons Milan sit at the top of the table after five league games.

 At 27, Pulisic enters his athletic prime while benefiting from Modrić's veteran guidance both on and off the pitch. The two will likely play a big role when the Rossoneri face Juventus on Oct. 5 at the Allianz Arena before the October international break.