23 Jun 2026 05:00 BST |
4 min read
Antonio Freeman, the Super Bowl-winning father of Villarreal and USA defender Alex Freeman, was moved to tears after hearing Mauricio Pochettino’s effusive praise of his son.
The 21-year-old has enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence over the past 18 months, and it has continued this summer. Freeman has started both of the USMNT’s World Cup games, meaningfully contributing to both wins.
He produced an assist against Paraguay and followed that up with a goal against Australia as the Stars and Stripes cruised into the World Cup knockout stages. A right-back by trade, Freeman is perfectly suited to playing as an outside centre-back in Pochettino’s system.
Indeed, the Argentine has perhaps been the biggest supporter of Freeman since he established himself at Orlando City at the beginning of 2025. He started every game for the USMNT at the Gold Cup last year just a few months after breaking into the Lions’ side.
It was a stunning explosion from a player who had spent three seasons grinding for Orlando’s reserves in MLS Next Pro after being rejected by Inter Miami as a youngster. By the end of 2025, he had earned himself a transfer to Champions League side Villarreal.
Freeman can become one of the best in the world
Speaking after Freeman’s outstanding performance against Australia, Pochettino could not contain his excitement. The manager waxed lyrical about the young defender and insisted that he could become “one of the best players in the world in his position.”
“He’s such a humble guy, he’s got an amazing profile, he wants to learn, he always listens,” Pochettino said. “It’s a player that you really enjoy being with, not only coaching, but also being with him.
Alex Freeman vs Australia 1 Goal pic.twitter.com/2tIFjjWgb3
— Jack Stephen 🇺🇸🇮🇳 (@USMNTZ) June 21, 2026
“He’s a lovely guy, and it’s an amazing player. For me, he has the potential to be one of the best players in his position in the world.”
This comment moved the 21-year-old’s father, Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame wide receiver Antonio Freeman, to tears. The NFL icon told Fox Sports: “Cried my eyes out. In the world? Are you kidding me?
“I could have been the best receiver for Green Bay. I would never be considered one of the best in the world. I always had Jerry Rice and then came Randy Moss and a host of other guys.
“To come from a coach like that who is so accomplished and has seen so much soccer in his life to make such a statement, man, it just brought tears to my eyes. This kid is all in. He loves soccer, he loves his job, and man, that was just next level.
“When you say, ‘He’s a Pro Bowler,’ OK, he’s one of the best in the NFL. When you have somebody say one of the best in the world, like, we’re not even talking about the US, we are talking about international soccer and [Pochettino has] seen a lot of soccer. For me, it’s a huge statement.”
Antonio, who won the Super Bowl in 1996, recognises that Alex’s success can transcend his own. “I think that’s one-of-one. I don’t know any father-son duo that probably has that, so it’s something very special and unique,” he explained.
“Only Packer fans were rooting for me. He really got to have his moment where everybody was rooting for Alex Freeman and the US team. It didn’t matter if you were a Seahawks fan, a Packers fan, a Steelers fan.
“You were an Alex Freeman fan, and I think that, when you look at it, it’s far bigger.”
