5 Things to Know about U.S. National Team Player Malik Tillman

A six-part documentary series “Bundesliga: Road to Americas” is now running on ESPN+ streaming in the U.S. region featuring the American star, so be sure to catch the last three episodes in the series via on-demand on ESPN+ through June 4.

1. Tillman didn’t begin at Bayern, his roots are in Fürth

Before joining Bayern Munich, Tillman actually began his youth career with SpVgg Greuther Fürth. He moved to Bayern’s academy in 2015 at just 13 years old, where he developed into one of the club’s top prospects. That early move, from a smaller Franconian club to Germany’s biggest, set the tone for a career built on steady progression through elite programs.

2. He arrived in Leverkusen as a back-to-back league champion in Holland

Tillman’s time with PSV Eindhoven wasn’t just productive, it was historic. He helped PSV win the Eredivisie title in 2023-24 and followed it up with another championship the next season, despite PSV entering the final five weeks of the season nine points behind table leaders Ajax. In his first title-winning campaign alone, he scored nine league goals, as PSV lifted the trophy ending a five-year title drought for the club. The next year he added 16 goals the next season across all competitions in 2024-25.

3. He chose the Red, White & Blue without ever visiting the country

Despite representing Germany at multiple youth levels, Tillman ultimately committed to the United States Men's National Team, a decision rooted in family. Born in Nürnberg to a German mother and American father, he had dual eligibility but had never even been to the United States before his first national team camp in 2022. That unusual path makes him part of a select group of other German-born players with American parents who have had caps with the USMNT.

4. His U.S. debut came against Morocco.

Tillman made his senior USMNT debut on June 1, 2022, in a 3-0 win over Morocco, just one day after his international switch was approved by FIFA. But his standout moment came during the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, when he scored twice in a single match against Trinidad and Tobago—his first international goals—before adding another later in the tournament as one of the best players for the U.S. in the tournament. Still only in his early 20s, he has already built a solid international résumé with regular appearances and growing influence on the pitch for the U.S.

5. A scoring debut!

Tillman comes from a footballing family and his older brother, Timothy, is also a professional player. Tillman is known for being quiet and reserved, often describing himself as someone who prefers to make a mark on the pitch rather than talk. He scored on his debut with Bayer 04 on August 30, 2025 in a 3-3 draw with Werder Bremen.