Malik Tillman

Malik Tillman is an American attacking midfielder Born on 28 May 2002 in Nuremberg, Germany, to a German mother and an American father. He holds dual citizenship and represented both countries at youth level before committing to the United States senior team, making his debut in June 2022. He developed through the Bayern Munich academy from age 13, had a breakout loan at Rangers in 2022-23, and won back-to-back Eredivisie titles at PSV Eindhoven (2023-24 and 2024-25) before joining Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2025.

Pochettino picked Tillman over Gio Reyna for the advanced central role in the USA's 4-3-3 for the opening fixture against Paraguay on 12 June 2026 at SoFi Stadium. Tillman assisted Folarin Balogun's second goal as the United States won 4-1, with the broadcast drawing roughly 19 million American viewers. The co-hosts' campaign ended in Seattle on 6 July, when Belgium won 4-1; Tillman scored the USA's only goal, a free kick that briefly cut the margin before Belgium pulled clear again.

Tillman's selection ahead of Reyna carried tactical significance: Pochettino needed a midfielder with engine and off-ball movement to complement Balogun as a lone striker. Tillman's two Eredivisie-winning seasons at PSV gave him the pressing habits and combination play that fitted the shape, and the assist in the tournament opener, followed by the free kick that produced the USA's only goal in their last-16 exit, established him as one of the USMNT's most consistent performers across the tournament.