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By now, Julian Hall needs no introduction. The 18-year-old phenom for the U.S. men's national team is a true center forward in every sense of the term.
He has been central to the Stars and Stripes' impressive run this autumn, playing a pivotal role in the team's three straight wins to launch a post-World Cup era of dominance. Following his latest heroics in a commanding 3–0 defeat of fierce rival Mexico, Hall now finds himself in the elite company of Brazilian soccer icon Pelé.
The teenager broke the deadlock in the Concacaf rivalry clash with a 28th-minute strike, capitalizing on a fumble by Mexican goalkeeper Raúl Rangel for a powerful rebound finish. It marked his third goal in as many matches, having netted once in each of his first three appearances for the senior national team.
Hall became just the third player in USMNT history to score in each of his first three caps and the first to do so in over two decades. More remarkably, he became the youngest player since a 16-year-old Pelé — nearly half a century ago — to accomplish the feat.
Pelé Bursts onto International Scene
Back in 1957, Brazil may have fallen 2–1 to Argentina at Maracanã Stadium, but a teenage Pelé — aged 16 years and eight months — stepped onto the pitch in canary yellow for the very first time and netted his debut international goal. Thanks to that 76th-minute finish under the blazing July sun, he remains Brazil's youngest international scorer to this day.
Pelé added his second international goal just three days later, again against Argentina, in the second and final leg of the 1957 Roca Cup — the two-match tournament between the South American rivals. His 20th-minute finish helped steer the Seleção to a 2–0 victory.
The young prodigy didn't return to the pitch for Brazil until the following May, for a friendly against Paraguay, yet he found the net once more. A tap-in in the 81st minute helped his side cruise to a 5–1 win at the storied Maracanã Stadium.
Those three goals set the stage for Pelé's extraordinary career with Brazil. The legendary icon concluded his international tenure with 77 goals between 1957 and 1971, the second-highest tally behind Neymar (80) in Brazilian history. Yet while Pelé reached that mark in just 92 appearances, Neymar required 125.
Is Hall Destined for Similar Greatness?
Pelé's explosive start was swiftly followed by his dominance at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden — the first of a record three titles (1962, 1970) he would claim for Brazil. At just 17, Pelé scored six goals that summer: the winner against Wales in the quarterfinals, a hat-trick against France in the semifinal second half, and two goals against Sweden in the final. His breathtaking performances earned him worldwide acclaim and a spotlight that never dimmed.
Is Hall destined for similar greatness?
The USMNT and head coach Mauricio Pochettino will certainly hope so, though Hall won't get the chance to shine on soccer's grandest stage until the 2030 World Cup, by which point he will be 22 years old.
THREE GAMES. THREE GOALS. JULIAN HALL.#USMNT x @VW pic.twitter.com/IPGeTrZ7wR
Pochettino's clear vision is that Hall, along with the other top young talents, will be fully seasoned at the senior international level by 2030 and, therefore, positioned to carry the USMNT to heights never previously achieved at the sport's premier tournament.
Combined with steady development under the Argentine manager over the next four years, an inevitable move to European soccer will elevate Hall's game to new heights. The New York City native currently plays for the New York Red Bulls, where he has enjoyed a breakout MLS season with 10 goals and three assists. Although the Homegrown Player recently penned a new deal through the 2029–30 season, there is little doubt that European clubs will come knocking for his signature well before then.
Even if he falls short of Pelé's legendary status — as nearly everyone has — Hall is nonetheless on course to become a rare and profoundly impactful figure for the American program. This fall alone, he has already become the youngest player in USMNT history to score in consecutive matches and just the second player in the past decade to net in three straight games (Malik Tillman). That latter feat is one that U.S. Soccer figurehead Christian Pulisic has repeatedly attempted and never achieved throughout his entire international career. Hall managed it on his very first try.
There is no telling how far Hall will go, making the USMNT's future more thrilling than it has ever been.