Meet Alex Freeman, son of a Super Bowl champion and USMNT's latest unlikely World Cup star

SEATTLE — Alex Freeman spent a few anxious seconds waiting to learn whether the biggest goal of his life would count. By the time video review confirmed the U.S. defender had been onside, his United States teammates were already sprinting toward him.

Freeman's first World Cup goal ended up being the capper on the United States men's national team's 2-0 victory over Australia on Friday. The victory secured a berth in the Round of 32 for the U.S.

Initially, Freeman — who followed through with the header after Sergiño Dest's shot was blocked by an Australian defender — was called offsides. But review determined Freeman had been onside when Dest made the shot, making it a goal.

That's when Freeman and the USMNT reserves ran over to the opposite side of the field, celebrating the young U.S. defender's goal.

"I was going to run to the side, and Cristian [Roldan] and some of the boys were like, 'No, no, come to this side, to this side,'" Freeman said of the celebration. "And when [the goal] got accepted I turned back and they were all running at me, I was like, 'I'm gonna run to the other corner flag.'"

"He was already kind of near us, so we're just kind of telling him, 'come, come, come, come, come,'" Auston Trusty confirmed to reporters after the game.

In many ways, Freeman was an unlikely hero. The United States' first goal was officially credited as an own goal by Australian defender Cameron Burgess after a dangerous run and cross from Folarin Balogun, leaving the 21-year-old defender as the only American credited with a goal in the 2-0 victory.

Freeman is a relative newcomer to the U.S. squad: Friday was just his 19th cap, with the 21-year-old defender only a year or so removed from his first senior call-up. He started his career with the Orlando City academy, debuting for the senior team in 2022 at age 17, but completed a $7 million transfer to La Liga side Villarreal in January.

And at the same time, Freeman has become a key piece of the U.S. back line in a short amount of time. Of his 19 matches, he's played the full 90 minutes in 10, including both group stage games at this World Cup. Friday's goal wasn't Freeman's first — he scored twice for the USMNT during friendlies last year — but it was his most important to date.

Freeman spoke about his own rapid rise for both club and country, noting that he's been moving at a "fast pace at such a young age."

"I think it's hard for me to kind of take it all in," he said.

USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino had high praise for the defender, and attributed some of Freeman's "evolution" to former Orlando City head coach Oscar Pareja and the rest of their coaching staff. (Pareja and Orlando mutually parted ways in March.)

"If you don't have the support of the coaches like Oscar Pareja and the coaching staff in Orlando, and if you don't build that relationship and trust, it's difficult to make decisions," Pochettino said. "[Freeman has] an amazing profile. He want to learn, he always listens and he's a player that you really enjoy being with him, not only coaching, but being with him. He's a lovely guy and he's an amazing player for me. [He has] potential to be one of the best players in his position in the world."

Freeman's father is former wide receiver and Green Bay Packers great Antonio Freeman, giving some context to the USMNT defender's ability to thrive at the other football. But Freeman made it clear he wanted to separate himself from his father's accomplishments.

"That just shows how he can be great, and I can be great in my own way as well," the younger Freeman said.

That early glimpse at greatness was clear, not only in the goal, but with the rest of his play. Midway through the half, Freeman had an outstanding defensive play to tap the ball out of bounds and keep Australia from getting a very dangerous chance.

Freeman also went down with a knock to the head shortly before his goal, but was able bounce back without issue. That doggedness was on display with his goal, with Freeman saying postgame that he was going to get the rebound on Dest's shot "any way I can" — a determination that led to glory, after an assist from VAR.

Though the defender is still young, it was the realization of a lifelong goal for Freeman, who got emotional during the national anthem ahead of Friday's game.

"I think for me, it shows how I've made it, kind of in my way. I've been working my whole life to be able to go to that moment and hear the national anthem in front of the home crowd," he said.

Freeman made a point to shout out that home crowd, which had Seattle Stadium shaking after both goals Friday — literally, as the stadium recorded seismic activity following the VAR decision.

Still, Freeman said that he and his teammates didn't really get a chance to appreciate the fans until after the game was over.

"In a big game, you don't realize how much support you have in the stands, right? And after the game, we were just able to take it all in, and realize how much of a great support system that we have in the U.S. fans," Freeman said. "[It] kind of make us calm and make us accept the fact that we're here and we have such an amazing thing to do, and now we have more stuff to do."