World Cup star nicknamed by parents after 34-cap England player left out by Thomas Tuchel

In another timeline, Trent Alexander-Arnold could have been playing at this World Cup for the USMNT through his mother.

And yet it was the mum of one of the USA’s breakout tournament stars who backed her son to replicate the Real Madrid man’s creative influence from right-back on football’s grandest stage.

Alexander-Arnold was overlooked by Thomas Tuchel for England’s World Cup squad not once but twiceGetty

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Alexander-Arnold is among England’s highest profile absentees from the World Cup after being repeatedly snubbed by Thomas Tuchel.

The 27-year-old, who hasn’t featured for the Three Lions since June 2025, was left out of the German’s initial 26-man list last month.

He was then overlooked a second time on the eve of England’s World Cup opener when right-back Tino Livramento had to withdraw through injury and was replaced by Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah.

The irony won’t be lost on Alexander-Arnold, so often likened to an NFL quarterback, that the son of a Super Bowl winner has become the right-back to watch at the World Cup.

Alex Freeman’s mother. Rochelle, a Liverpool supporter, has jokingly referred to her son as her ‘little Trent Alexander-Arnold’.

However, it is a mark of the rise that the 21-year-old has enjoyed over the past 12 months that it’s now a more than fair comparison.

Freeman tipped to become the best right-back in the world

In fact, USMNT boss Mauricio Pochettino was keen to lavish praise on Freeman’s ‘amazing’ profile following the 2-0 win over Australia.

“For me, he has the potential to be one of the best players in his position in the world,” the Argentine said.

Those words really hit home for Freeman’s father, who told the Mail: “I still cry when I hear that.”

Freeman scored the second goal in the 2-0 win over Australia that ultimately sealed the US’ spot in the knockoutsGetty

Freeman earlier become just the second defender to score for the USA in the World Cup since the last time it was held on home soil in 1994, after John Brooks against Ghana 12 years ago.

Last week, he played a part in USMNT’s history-breaking 4-1 victory over Paraguay, assisting Giovanni Reyna‘s stoppage-time screamer.

It’s all the more remarkable that during the the 2022 World Cup, Freeman was playing for Orlando City’s reserve team in MLS Next Pro.

He wasn’t in the national team’s plans this time around, until Mauricio Pochettino brought him forward for an audition last year.

He hasn’t looked back, and his two successive starts at the World Cup have marked the 18th consecutive time he has been in the starting XI.

However, there might have been a scenario in which he never stepped onto a soccer field.

Alex Freeman’s father, Antonio, was a star wide reciever for the Green Bay PackersGetty

Alex Freeman pursued soccer career over NFL with Super Bowl winning father

In a relatively unknown fact across the world of sports, Alex Freeman’s father is Antonio Freeman.

Antonio was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 1995 NFL Draft.

Three-years later Freeman was preparing to play in his first Super Bowl. Going out and catching a 81-yard touchdown pass, helping Green Bay win Super Bowl XXXI.

“I always got asked if football was the path,” Alex told Kevin Baxter of the LA Times last summer, “But I always had a secret love for soccer.”

He would have to keep it a secret because he wasn’t sure how his father would react.

Freeman’s World Cup debut was his 17th consecutive start under Mauricio PochettinoGetty

His stepfather, Jake Hinkle introduced Alex to the sport, serving as his first coach, and it was love at first sight from there.

“I had to pick,” he said. “And soccer was the clear choice by far.”

Antonio, who retired from the NFL in 2004, has gotten more involved with his football career, even admitting that seeing his son playing in a World Cup beats his Super Bowl victory.

‘Beast’ Alex Freeman is USMNT’s secret weapon at World Cup

With Freeman, Pochettino broke the unwritten rules of football.

Freeman has played more minutes wth the U.S. this year than he has with Villarreal, the Spanish team he joined in the January transfer window.

Despite making 17 consecutive appearances, Freeman is still relatively new to the USMNT setup, but has quickly integrated himself with some of the teams best players, including Christian Pulisic.

“Alex, he’s a beast, man,” Christian Pulisic told USA Today.

Pulisic is one of Freeman’s biggest supportersGetty

“He’s really impressed me, especially in these first two games here in this camp.

“I think he’s done such a good job, just his overall presence and what he brings, not even just physicality and athleticism, but he’s made some good forward progression with the ball and played good balls in behind.

“I feel like he seems a lot calmer, and I like what I’ve seen from him.”

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