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Mathis Albert became the youngest goal scorer in U.S. men’s national team history when his shot ricocheted off the top bar and in behind the goal line.
The goal by Albert (17 years, 131 days old) put an exclamation point on the USMNT’s 4-2 win over Chile in a friendly at Energizer Park in St. Louis.
The history-making moment came in second-half stoppage time off a free kick from Antonee Robinson. Auston Trusty headed Robinson’s boot back toward goal, where Albert was ready to pounce for his first senior national team goal.
Who is Mathis Albert?
Albert was born on May 21, 2009 in South Carolina. He moved to Southern California and drew the attention of European scouts as a player in the LA Galaxy academy. After a brief stint in the Galaxy’s academy, Albert joined the youth academy of German Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund in 2024. Borussia Dortmund is the same club where USMNT stars Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna got their professional careers rolling.
On April 26, 2026, Albert became the youngest American to debut in the Bundesliga, coming into Borussia Dortmund’s 4-0 win over Freiburg. Albert was 16 years, 11 months and 12 days old, younger than previous record-holder Gio Reyna who was 17 years, 2 months and 5 days old when he debuted for the same Borussia Dortmund team in 2020. Reyna’s debut broke Christian Pulisic’s record.
Albert made his national team debut in the USMNT’s 4-1 win over Peru on Sept. 26, 2026.
Youngest players to score for USMNT
- Mathis Albert (17 years, 131 days) – vs. Chile on Sept. 29, 2026
- Christian Pulisic (17 years, 253 days) – vs. Bolivia on May 28, 2016
- Juan Agudelo (17 years, 359 days) – vs. South Africa on Nov. 17, 2010
- Gio Reyna (18 years, 3 days) – vs. Panama on Nov. 16, 2020
- Jozy Altidore (18 years, 94 days) – vs. Mexico on Feb. 6, 2008
- Tim Weah (18 years, 95 days) – vs. Bolivia on May 28, 2018
- Josh Sargent (18 years, 97 days) – vs. Bolivia on May 28, 2018
- Landon Donovan (18 years, 235 days) – vs. Mexico on Oct. 25, 2000
- Ricardo Pepi (18 years, 242 days) – vs. Honduras on Sept. 8, 2021
- Jovan Kirovski (18 years, 268 days) – vs. Honduras on Dec. 11, 1994
Contributing: Jon Arnold