Injury Blow for USMNT Star

U.S. forward Christian Pulisic has been diagnosed with a bone bruise and microfracture of the tibia/fibula, following a painful exit during the U.S. men’s national team’s 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the World Cup round-of-16. According to sources briefed on the diagnosis, Pulisic will be sidelined for several weeks, though the injury is not expected to keep him out for months.

The injury occurred in the 52nd minute of the match when Pulisic attempted a shot from the edge of the penalty box but instead collided with Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans. Pulisic described the moment after the match, stating, “I just totally twisted my ankle and my knee in one play.”

A Difficult Tournament

Despite attempting to persevere, Pulisic was visibly hampered, struggling to decelerate and limp through several plays before coach Mauricio Pochettino substituted him in the 59th minute for Sebastian Berhalter. This marked Pulisic's second injury of the tournament, having previously suffered a calf injury during a group stage match against Paraguay.

The injury pattern echoes Pulisic's experience in Qatar, where he suffered a pelvic injury during the game against Iran, highlighting a recurring struggle with fitness during the global showpiece.

Controversy and Criticism

Beyond the physical toll, Pulisic has faced a wave of criticism for his post-game comments regarding the injury. When asked about the situation, Pulisic remarked, “It’s just frustrating to end like that, of course, but now I have time to rest, so hopefully it’ll be OK.”

The mention of "rest" did not sit well with critics. USWNT legend Carli Lloyd took to social media to voice her disapproval, writing, “You rest when your playing career is over. Period.” Similarly, USMNT legend Landon Donovan expressed his frustration on his Unfiltered podcast, stating that in his position, “you would have had to f***ing drag me off the field.”

Outlook for AC Milan

Despite the setback and the criticism, Pulisic finds support at the club level. AC Milan's new coach, Ruben Amorim, has publicly backed the 27-year-old, calling him a “really talented player” who is “perfect for the way I think about football.”

Amorim addressed the recent backlash, stating, “I know he had some criticism after the World Cup elimination, but I am here to say we believe a lot in him... Pulisic is really important for us.”

Pulisic is currently on track to return to training in August, potentially aligning with AC Milan's Serie A campaign opener against Torino on August 23.