When former Green Bay Packers star Antonio Freeman was asked to name the family’s best athlete, the pass-catching great said there’s no doubt: That title belongs to his son.Limited time: Save 25% on NBC News subscriptionGet exclusive reporting, live Q&As and ad-free reading.Alex Freeman, a defender on the U.S.men’s national team, has emerged as a breakout star of this young World Cup, scoring an electrifying goal in America’s big win over Australia last week.“This guy is 6-foot-4.
If I had his height, his long arms and his long legs, I would have been super unstoppable in the NFL,” a beaming Antonio Freeman told “FIFA World Cup on Fox After Hours with James Corden” on Sunday.“But this guy is just 21.He’s just getting started,” he said.
“There’s a lot more to come for Alex, and I’m just happy that he is the best athlete in the family and he’s probably going to be the richest also.” The younger Freeman playfully called out proud pops, saying: “Off camera he doesn’t say this!”Green Bay Packers receiver Antonio Freeman at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images fileThe elder Freeman admitted he was initially disappointed that his son didn’t want to pursue football or basketball.He said he hopes all parents will learn the lesson of supporting their kids no matter what endeavor they pick.“When he told me [soccer was his choice], I was like, really?” Antonio Freeman said, overdramatizing his disappointment at the time.
“It’s just time to get on board and support your kids, whatever they do, you just support your kids.And through the process, I just saw how dedicated and how committed he was to just being better.
He spent holidays, he spent birthdays and different holidays, he was training while his other kids were at the beaches, hanging out.That’s when I could see his real focus to what he really wanted to become in life.” To the soccer world, Alex Freeman is the up-and-coming American wh...