The USMNT walked into the Round of 16 against Belgium knowing they hadn’t gotten past this stage since 2002. Then they went down 1-0 early. And then Malik Tillman did something that, honestly, you don’t see every day.
At the 30-minute mark, Tillman stepped up to a free kick just outside the box. He curled it over the wall and into the top corner. Tie game. The stadium erupted. And in that moment, Tillman joined some very exclusive company.
According to Underdog, Tillman now has two free kick goals in World Cup play. That puts him one behind Lionel Messi, who has three — the most in World Cup history. For a 24-year-old playing in just his second World Cup, that’s not bad company.
Tillman actually opened this tournament with a free kick goal against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32. That game ended 2-0 and helped the USMNT win Group D with six points. So this wasn’t a one-off. The kid has a knack for these moments.
Messi’s record still stands, but Tillman is chasing
Messi, of course, is Messi. He dragged Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar and has seven goals and one assist so far in this tournament. Argentina plays Egypt in the Round of 16 on Tuesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Nobody’s counting Messi out.
But Tillman has now scored on a free kick in two straight World Cup knockout games. That’s not just luck. That’s a skill set. And for a USMNT program that’s spent years looking for a true star to build around, Tillman keeps giving them reasons to believe.
Of course, as of this writing, the USMNT trails Belgium 3-1. The game isn’t over yet, but the hill is steep. Still, whatever happens from here, Tillman has already left his mark on this World Cup. He’s got the goals, the highlight, and a spot in the record books behind the greatest to ever do it.
Not a bad day’s work for a 24-year-old from Nuremberg.
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