This is an opinion column.

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It’s not just that a kid from Hoover, Ala., won the FA Cup on Saturday in Wembley Stadium. It’s how Chris Richards did it.

He didn’t simply represent Alabama and the United States in the world’s oldest national soccer competition. Richards dominated for Crystal Palace in its 1-0 victory against Manchester City. He shined.

He starred.

He was a brick wall and the best player on the field.

Richards was South London’s Alabama Slammer, shutting down Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and making it seem easy.

Haaland is considered one of the top forwards in the world. He’s big and he’s strong and he looks like what you would imagine a Viking king might look like back in the day. But not on this day, though. Haaland wasn’t tough enough for Richards, who is emerging as an international soccer star just as the 2026 World Cup comes into focus.

Richards plays right back for Crystal Palace in the Premier League and center-back for the United States Men’s National Team. He’s now a legend for Palace, a proud club that traces its roots back to 1861, but had never won a major trophy until shocking the world inside Wembley and hoisting the FA Cup on high.

It might be difficult for average sports fans in Alabama to fully appreciate what Richards represents for soccer in the United States. Americans are always being second-guessed in top leagues in the world, and especially in England. Christian Pulisic, for example, washed out at Chelsea. It’s a long list of American hopefuls who couldn’t make it in the Premier League.

For a guy from Alabama to step into the spotlight and play soccer with such grit and determination in the most physical league in the world is nothing short of groundbreaking.

Richards, who is 25 years old, is changing the perception of American-born soccer players abroad, and at a time when the USMNT needs fresh excitement and a shot of confidence, too.

Pulisic is a fine player, but the USMNT needs to make Richards the brand and the prototype going into this summer’s international window.

Once dubbed the golden generation, the current group of USMNT players are still searching for its identity. People are calling the team soft and overrated. I’m not ready to join that chorus, but the time is now to find a leader who can galvanize this team’s resolve. If new USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino wants to send a message, then he will make Richards the Americans’ permanent captain leading into June’s group stage of the Gold Cup.

The Americans need to get back to playing angry, desperate soccer for 90 minutes. That’s the way Richards has been playing for Palace. Can it inspire the national team in time for the World Cup? That’s the assignment.

The USMNT doesn’t just need a little Alabama toughness on its team. The Americans need to be led by it.

No more of this cute, fancy stuff on the pitch. The USMNT needs to get back to what Americans do best, fight in the dirt and get bloody in the box. What happened to the Clint Dempseys of American soccer? What happened to American desire and playing with passion?

Give the captain’s armband to Richards and tell him to start cracking skulls in the training sessions.

But, first, it’s time to enjoy Sweet Home Alabama.

With his long season in England in the books, Richards will now return to the Birmingham area for some much-needed offseason rest. He should be celebrated in town like a superstar. Richards is putting Birmingham and Alabama on the map internationally for something other than its fractured history.

He’s the future. He’s the franchise. Richards is already investing in local club Birmingham Legion FC. Expect his involvement with Legion to grow this summer. Birmingham, it’s time to wake up and embrace this homegrown gift. Richards represents potential and should be on billboards and marketing campaigns from now until the start of the World Cup.

Richards began this season as a reserve for Palace, but the team has been one of the hottest in the Premier League ever since Alabama’s own was elevated to starter. Richards persevered and all of his hard work behind the scenes is paying off. Is he the best defender to ever play for the United States? It’s time to start having that discussion.

No doubt Manchester City’s Haaland is now a believer.

BE HEARD

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Joseph Goodman is the lead sports columnist for the Alabama Media Group, and author of the book “We Want Bama: A Season of Hope and the Making of Nick Saban’s Ultimate Team.”