Malik Tillman went from struggling to get minutes to USMNT World Cup hero at right time
Malik Tillman, a 24-year-old midfielder for the United States men's national team, progressed from limited playing time at club level to scoring a decisive free‑kick in the World Cup round of 32. The goal against Bosnia‑Herzegovina came after Tillman practiced set‑piece scenarios and overcame doubts about his ability to clear the defensive wall. His performance has highlighted his development and positioned him as a key contributor for the upcoming round of 16 match.
- ▪Tillman grew up practicing free kicks with his brother and shifted from a brief goalkeeping phase to an attacking role early in his youth career.
- ▪He struggled for minutes with his club before earning a regular spot with the USMNT, culminating in a World Cup free‑kick goal that eliminated Bosnia‑Herzegovina.
- ▪The strike was taken after teammates discussed tactics, and Tillman executed it despite skepticism about his capacity to get the ball over the wall.
- ▪The goal left Tillman with a bloodied sock after a defender’s cleat tore it, underscoring the physical intensity of the match.
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Soccer exclusive details Malik Tillman went from struggling to get minutes to USMNT World Cup hero at right time By Ethan Sears Published July 4, 2026, 8:03 p.m. ET (function() { var overlay = document.getElementById("nyp-player-lcp-overlay"); if (!overlay) { return; } function hideOverlay() { overlay.remove(); } function afterDCL() { requestAnimationFrame(hideOverlay); } if (document.readyState === "loading") { document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", afterDCL, { once: true }); } else { afterDCL(); } })(); See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The New York Post on Google SEATTLE — When Malik Tillman was little, too young to be thinking about his future, he went through a phase of wanting to be a goalkeeper.
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