What happened to the youngest goalscorer at the 2014 World Cup, once called ‘one of Europe’s biggest talents’?
When Julian Green made history at the 2014 World Cup just weeks after turning 19, many expected him to play for the United States again in this summer’s tournament. Jurgen Klinsmann, who coached the US team back then, called Green “one of the biggest talents coming through European football right now” after he chose the US over Germany, where he had played at youth level.
Back then, Green was making a name for himself at Bayern Munich. After rising through their youth system, he made his first-team debut in late 2013, including a Champions League win over CSKA Moscow. Klinsmann said in March 2014, “We’re not only looking at Julian for this summer’s World Cup, we’re thinking about the future. Having him with the US is a big step.” Green promised he would do everything to earn a spot, and he did just that—making the squad ahead of Landon Donovan.
Green then became the youngest player to score at a World Cup for the US when he scored against Belgium in the knockout round—and he did it with his very first touch in the match. More than a decade later, he still holds that record at 19 years and 25 days old. Tim Howard called him “exciting” and the team’s “X-factor,” saying “every team needs that surprise element.”
After his strong showing, Green went on loan to Bundesliga side Hamburg, hoping to follow the success stories of players like Toni Kroos and Philipp Lahm who thrived after loan moves. But he struggled to make a big impact there. When he returned to Bayern under coach Carlo Ancelotti, Green became the first American to score for the club in a competitive game—a DFB-Pokal match against Augsburg in 2016. Unfortunately, he never became a regular starter and was transferred to VfB Stuttgart in 2018.
Later that summer, Green was loaned to German second-division team Greuther Fürth, where he still plays today, having made over 200 appearances. Looking back on his World Cup goal and career since, Green shared his thoughts with GOAL: “I don’t think there was a lot of pressure at the time. I scored, and then saw all the news written about me, but it’s hard to explain. After the World Cup, it wasn’t easy because I was at Bayern, probably the best team they’ve ever had. I moved to Hamburg, but it didn’t work out.”
He added, “Every player’s path is different, so I can’t give advice like ‘do this or that.’ In the end, you just have to work hard. That’s the key. But there are always many things that can push your career in one way or another.”