Malik Tillman Misses Top Five U.S. Earners at 2026 World Cup
Malik Tillman just missed the cut for the five highest-paid U.S. players at the 2026 World Cup, landing outside a list topped by Christian Pulisic at an estimated $27.5 million in total compensation over the past 12 months before taxes and agents’ fees. Antonee Robinson also fell just short of the top five, underscoring how far the commercial market has climbed for the U.S. men’s pool.
Christian Pulisic Leads U.S. Players
Pulisic’s edge was clear. He is projected to earn $20 million from endorsements and other off-field partners, plus roughly $7.5 million from his contract with AC Milan, where he arrived in 2023 on a transfer worth up to $24.2 million. That split between club money and commercial money put him well ahead of the rest of the American group.
Weston McKennie ranked No. 2 among U.S. players at $15 million, followed by Timothy Weah at $9.5 million and Chris Richards at $7.5 million. Tyler Adams and Sergiño Dest tied for fifth at $7 million each. Tillman and Robinson were right behind that cutoff, close enough to be part of the same conversation but not close enough to crack the top five.
World Cup Brands Expand
The ranking comes as the first World Cup on North American soil in more than three decades has increased commercial interest in U.S. soccer players. Kerry Bradley, senior vice president of strategy at Horizon Sports & Experiences, said, “more and more brands are waking up to the realization that there’s this little thing called the World Cup coming and maybe we should think through our soccer strategy.”
She also said the market used to be built “off of faith.” Now, in her words, “The ceiling has exploded, and with it, the floor has also come up,” which fits a player pool where even the names just outside the top five are drawing numbers that would have stood out years ago.
Pulisic Sets the Pace
The gap at the top is not just about salary. Pulisic’s commercial profile is bolstered by the fact that he has the most UEFA Champions League goals by an American player with 12, and four current teammates also appear on that list. That kind of visibility gives brands a familiar face to anchor their World Cup push, while the players just behind him are still pushing into that tier.
For Tillman, the takeaway is simple: he is already inside the group that brands and fans are watching, but the money table shows how narrow the gap is between a top-five place and the next line. Robinson is in the same spot, close enough to matter, just outside the cutoff that defines the market’s upper tier.
