Antonio Freeman carries an obituary in his backpack — a tribute to his close friend Aaron Pinkett, who died about a year ago. In the months since, one thing has become unmistakable to Freeman: Pinkett had a gift for seeing what was coming. He predicted this journey, Freeman says — “every step that Alex has taken.”
On Monday afternoon, the former Green Bay Packers wide receiver stood beside the blacked-out fencing around the USMNT’s World Cup base outside Los Angeles. He was dressed in the team’s red-and-white stripes, with “Freeman 16” across his back.
Only days earlier, Alex Freeman — the son of the Super Bowl champion — had scored the United States’ second goal in a World Cup victory over Australia in Seattle. His header helped send the Americans into the knockout rounds and marked another extraordinary milestone in the 21-year-old’s rapid ascent.
The defender has quickly become one of the national team’s breakout figures. After the win over Australia, head coach Mauricio Pochettino said Freeman possesses the qualities needed to develop into one of the world’s top right backs.
Three days later, the praise still overwhelms his father. His lip trembles and his eyes well up as he reflects on it. “I still cry when I hear that,” the former NFL standout says.
Antonio Freeman discussed his son Alex’s extraordinary soccer journey with the Daily Mail
Alex Freeman found the net as the USMNT defeated Australia to advance to the World Cup knockout rounds
The 21-year-old carved his own path rather than following his father into the NFL
But after all he has already achieved, who would bet against the Villarreal defender proving his manager right? Pinkett never doubted him. He predicted that Alex would play abroad. Check. He said the defender would represent his country, too. Check.
‘I fought him,’ Freeman Sr says. ‘You have to give him a chance to grow,’ he told his friend. But it turns out that Pinkett was right. No wonder Freeman is keeping that obituary close as he travels to watch every US game at this World Cup. ‘He’s on this trip with me,’ the 54-year-old says.
In January 1997, Freeman Sr scored an 81-yard touchdown as the Packers beat the New England Patriots at Super Bowl XXXI. He had announced himself to NFL fans a few months earlier, with a couple of touchdowns against the Seahawks. In Seattle. Where, three decades on, Alex wrote himself into World Cup history.
‘I knew he was good, but wow,’ Freeman says. ‘Knowing that he’s not just doing it for a team, he’s doing it for a country.’
It was a ‘full-circle’ moment for the family. ‘I had my breakout game there and then for Alex to come along 30 years later, at only 21 years old, to have his breakout game on the biggest stage of sports ever here in the United States… a very magical moment.’
The goal was only confirmed after a long VAR check for offside. ‘[That] just made it more of an epic moment,’ Freeman says. So, come on then, where does that goal rank alongside his Super Bowl win?
‘They sit side by side because it’s a father-son accomplishment,’ Freeman says. ‘One team rooted for me, he’s got the whole country behind him. And to score a goal of that magnitude, man…’
Alex grew up playing football and basketball before deciding as a teenager that his heart lay elsewhere.
At Super Bowl XXXI, Antonio Freeman scored an 81-yard touchdown for the Packers
Alex Freeman revealed that his father is now a soccer nerd who watches every big game
‘My only disappointment was that I didn’t know soccer, and I couldn’t coach him,’ Freeman Sr says. ‘All my life I had dreams of coaching my son and being a coach, teaching him how to run routes, whatever.’ But that chance never arrived. ‘Wow, now I’m useless,’ he thought.
When Alex was very young, they would play tennis together or enjoy games of H.O.R.S.E. on his father’s basketball court. They would head to the local park, too, so Alex could mingle with other kids.
‘That was pretty much it,’ Freeman says. ‘I just didn’t want to put pressure on him.’
These days, Alex is 6ft 2ins – slightly taller than his father. He has inherited his speed, too. After that goal against Australia was confirmed, teammates rushed to celebrate with the defender. There was only one issue: they all struggled to catch him.
‘The reaction from those guys just lets me know, as a parent: my kid’s is in good hands,’ Freeman says.
With all that athleticism, though, perhaps he could have made it in the NFL or NBA after all. ‘He would have had to work harder, though… he didn’t really get a growth spurt until two or three years ago,’ Freeman says.
For a long time, Alex was a small kid. ‘So I’m sure the first hit he took in football, he was probably like: “Man, you know what? I’m done with this.”’
In recent years, as his son has risen to the very top, Freeman Sr has become a soccer nerd. He is always watching games around Europe and educating the family. So does he wish he could have played growing up?
Earlier this year, the defender joined Spanish club Villarreal in a deal worth up to $6.5 million
‘No, too much running,’ he jokes. ‘After each play in football, we get at least 40 seconds to make it back to the huddle… I don’t think I would be cool with running for 90 minutes and not knowing if I was going to get a goal.’
His son now has three in 19 appearances for the USMNT. But his astonishing rise came only after a few bumpy years. As a teenager, the defender was rejected by Inter Miami’s academy before leaving home at 15 to join Orlando City. Earlier this year, he moved to Spanish side Villarreal and waited several months for his first start.
Throughout it all, his dad told him: ‘Be ready for your opportunity.’ Freeman thought his son’s career had peaked last May, when Orlando played Miami and he faced his childhood idol – Lionel Messi – for the first time.
‘Then he just continued to climb,’ Freeman says. So that replica USMNT jersey is already well-worn. The only time Freeman takes it off? When he is around his son. Alex prefers to keep everything ‘low-key.’ But who can blame his dad for showing off?
‘It’s been an amazing ride,’ Freeman says. ‘Every day is Father’s Day for me.’
