The Super Bowl winner's son stepping into spotlight with USA

Figure caption,

USA qualify for last 32 with comfortable win over Australia

Back in September 1996, Antonio Freeman's performance lit up the American football stage as his two touchdowns helped the Green Bay Packers to an impressive win at the Seattle Seahawks.

Months later he became a Super Bowl winner - the highest accolade an NFL player can achieve.

Fast forward almost 30 years and the name Freeman is creating headlines in Seattle once again but this time in a different sport, with his son Alex scoring his first World Cup goal on Friday to help the USA to a 2-0 win against Australia to seal their place in the knockouts.

"It's a full circle family moment," Alex Freeman said after the win.

"It shows how great the family tree is. It shows he can be great but I can be great in my own way and how amazing it is to have a dad that is successful and can mentor me to be ready for moments like these."

Freeman senior is following his son every step of the way on this World Cup journey, having been seen beaming with pride at USA matches.

But given how NFL has long overshadowed football as the country's most popular sport, it wasn't easy for Alex to make the decision to initially pursue that path.

Unsure how his father would react, he was initially encouraged to pursue football by his mother and step father, who also acted his first coach in the game.

The 21-year-old defender revealed last year that he initially had to keep his love of football secret, but was glad he was ultimately encouraged to pursue his dream.

"It just shows how quick stuff can change and to not doubt yourself," he added.

"Now I'm here, it shows you can never give up. Keep pushing and you never know what chance you're going to get and how you can go and make stuff happen.

"You don't know when this chance will come again."

Image gallerySkip image gallery

1. 

   Image source, @enzdonewithfree

   Image caption,

   Alex Freeman played both football and American football as a kid

2. 

   Image source, @enzdonewithfree

   Image caption,

   Freeman pictured with his dad and Christian Pulisic

3. 

   Image source, _alexfreemann

   Image caption,

   The Freeman family celebrate at the World Cup

1 of 3

Slide 1 of 3, A young Alex Freeman, Alex Freeman played both football and American football as a kid

End of image gallery

How Pochettino's faith in Freeman is paying off

Figure caption,

Freeman makes it two after VAR review

By playing and scoring for his country at a home World Cup, the last few days will have felt like a dream for Freeman.

It is especially impressive because just four years ago such a dream will have felt like an impossible reality.

For the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022 Freeman was playing in the reserves of Orlando City and even as recently as 18 months ago he was barely in the national team conversation.

But Mauricio Pochettino's appointment as USA head coach in 2024 was to prove pivotal.

The ex-Tottenham boss set about forging a team for this tournament that was built on a platform of youth, and Freeman was one of the key components of that.

He was first called up to the international team last year and his progress since then has been rapid. He was an ever present at the Gold Cup last year and now one of the first names on Pochettino's teamsheet at this World Cup.

"I want to give the credit to the Orlando club and the coaching staff," Pochettino said.

"If you don't have the support of the coaches at Orlando and you can't build that relationship and trust, it is difficult based on just some clips.

"This is one example of how the people deserve the credit and of course so does the player.

"He has an amazing profile, he wants to learn, he always listens. He is a player you really enjoy being with him, not just coaching but is a lovely guy also. He has the potential to be one of the best players in his position in the world."

'Diamond's little brother' now becoming 'America's little brother'

Freeman is not only proving popular on the pitch, but has also captured the hearts of the younger generation on social media too.

That's after a TikTok post by his step sister, Diamond Spaulding, went viral.

It happened just before the USA's opener against Paraguay when Diamond was on her way to a fan festival in Houston.

Seeing a post that suggested the writer was unaware a World Cup was about to take place, Diamond sent a post saying: "My lil brother playing for the US so cheer for #16."

After Freeman provided an assist in the USA's 4-1 win against Paraguay, that post had blown up, with lots of people now praising "Diamond's Little Brother".

That nickname was prominent on social media again after Freeman scored against Australia, but with some developing things even further.

"Go Alex !!! We're hyped about America's Little Brother!!" wrote one person on X.

For a player who was once uncertain he could make a career in football in a country where American football was dominant, not only is he forging his own path, but appears to be introducing a whole wave of new fans to "soccer".

"It shows how I have made it in my way," Freeman said after Friday's game.

"I've worked my whole life to be able to get to this moment, to sing the national anthem in front of a home crowd. It just makes me so happy."