Christian Pulisic, the most expensive player in US soccer history, says Tiger Woods was his biggest inspiration as a kid

• Soccer star Christian Pulisic says golf legend Tiger Woods is his "biggest inspiration."
• "Growing up, I always loved him," the Chelsea forward told Insider.
• Pulisic also says he aims to emulate Woods by inspiring a new generation of American athletes.

As a young American athlete, there are countless home grown sporting heroes to idolize - Michael Jordan, Muhammed Ali, and Serena Williams to name but a few.

However, for soccer star Christian Pulisic, it is golf legend Tiger Woods who he looks up to.

Woods, now a five-time Masters champion, became a professional golfer aged just 20 in 1996, and quickly became a household name after winning three PGA Tour events and a first major in less than a year.

His meteoric rise to fame helped interest in golf in America soar - a feat Pulisic hopes he can replicate within soccer.

"Tiger Woods is probably my biggest inspiration," the Chelsea FC star told Insider in an interview. "I loved him as an athlete. Growing up, I always loved him.

"[His rise] was incredible, and that's exactly what I'm hoping I can do, inspire, especially kids back home, to do what I'm doing."

Pulisic is already having quite the effect on American soccer.

The Hershey-born star burst onto the scene with Borussia Dortmund as a teenager in 2016, scoring 19 goals and assisting 26 more across the next three years.

His form in Germany earned him a $75 million move to Chelsea in 2019 - a price tag that made him the most expensive American soccer player in history.

Since Pulisic's breakthrough with Dortmund, a wave of new American stars have followed suit by moving to Europe.

No less than 17 American players now play in Europe's top five leagues, while over 100 play in the continent's other divisions.

"It really just makes me proud," Pulisic told Insider of his current contingent of compatriots in Europe.

"I mean, there were people before me who inspired me, who may not get as much credit, but I hope that potentially some of these guys saw me over in Europe and playing in the Bundesliga and thought, 'Wow, if this kid can do it, I can do it.'

"And now to see, it's almost a regular thing, Americans across Europe, you know it's just awesome. It's awesome for all of us to see."

Christian Pulisic spoke to Insider to mark signing a new long-term deal with global sports brand Puma, a partnership he hopes can further inspire the growth of American soccer.

"We're hoping that we can accomplish something special together," he told Insider.