USMNT Players Face Mixed Fortunes in European Action

This past weekend brought a rollercoaster of emotions for American soccer players competing across Europe, with injury setbacks, triumphant returns, and crucial performances shaping their club campaigns ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Robinson's Unfortunate Ankle Setback

Fulham left-back Antonee Robinson's season took another unfortunate turn as he suffered an ankle injury that kept him out of Sunday's match against Sunderland. The 28-year-old defender, who had already missed 12 league games earlier this season with a complicated knee injury, was hoping to build momentum after returning in December and starting nine consecutive games.

"He felt something in his ankle throughout the week," Fulham manager Marco Silva told The Athletic after his team's 3-1 victory. "He tried yesterday (Saturday) in the session and he wasn't feeling 100 per cent to come to the game. We took a decision to not bring him with us and to put another player in the squad."

According to sources close to the player, Robinson initially suffered a dead leg after a blow to the thigh muscle above his troublesome right knee last week, then compounded the issue by rolling his ankle in training. While the injury is not believed to be serious, his availability for Sunday's home match against Tottenham Hotspur remains uncertain.

Triumphant Returns from Injury

Not all injury news was negative for American players. Ricardo Pepi made a spectacular return for PSV Eindhoven after missing nine league games with a broken arm suffered in January. The 23-year-old striker came on as a late substitute against Heerenveen and promptly scored in his side's 3-1 victory.

PSV manager Peter Bosz admitted he wasn't sure what to expect from Pepi's return: "I have to tell you, very honestly, that I didn't know what to expect from him," he told the PSV website. "He shot two goals, one of which was disallowed. That goal he did score was a typical Pepi goal. If he gets the ball there in that spot, you can count on a goal."

Meanwhile, Tyler Adams also made his long-awaited return for Bournemouth after missing the same number of league games as Pepi due to a tear to his medial knee ligaments. The 27-year-old midfielder started in Saturday's 0-0 draw at West Ham, playing over an hour before being substituted as a precaution.

"We needed Tyler to start today, play for 66 minutes and we didn't want to risk any longer with him," said Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola. "We have some players like him, starting to become available but we have to be safe with them still."

Pulisic Back in Milan Starting Lineup

Christian Pulisic returned to AC Milan's starting lineup for the first time since January 18 in Serie A, overcoming bursitis that had limited him to brief cameos from the bench. The USMNT star started in Sunday's 1-0 defeat by Parma at San Siro, lasting a little over an hour before being substituted.

Despite Milan's loss, which leaves them 10 points behind rivals Inter at the top of Serie A, Pulisic created several chances for his team and had a shot that brushed the post.

Balogun's Scoring Streak Continues

Folarin Balogun continued his impressive scoring form with Monaco, finding the net for the third time in two games. The American striker scored in Monaco's 3-2 comeback victory over high-flying Lens in Ligue 1, building on his impressive double against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last week.

Monaco celebrated Balogun's contribution on social media with an AI-generated post highlighting his recent scoring prowess, marking his growing importance to the team.

Defensive Drama Across Europe

Two American defenders experienced dramatically different weekends. Crystal Palace's Chris Richards suffered a nasty head-to-head collision with Wolves' Santiago Bueno during their Sunday match at Selhurst Park. The 25-year-old, who had earlier almost scored an own goal via an unlucky deflection, was down receiving treatment but bravely played on to help Palace secure a much-needed victory.

In Scotland, Auston Trusty's afternoon ended painfully as he was sent off for violent conduct after chopping at the arm of Hibernian's Jamie McGrath during a corner. VAR instructed the referee to intervene, leading to Trusty's dismissal. Celtic manager Martin O'Neill felt the decision was harsh, and matters worsened for the Glasgow club as they conceded an 88th-minute goal that cost them vital ground in the title race.

Looking Ahead: Champions League Showdowns

The coming week promises more excitement for American players in European competition. Folarin Balogun will attempt to continue his scoring streak as Monaco tries to pull off an upset against PSG in the Champions League play-off second leg on Wednesday. Weston McKennie faces the monumental task of helping Juventus overcome their 5-2 first-leg loss to Galatasaray.

Malik Tillman will hope to help Bayer Leverkusen finish the job against Olympiakos after their 2-0 first-leg advantage, while Johnny Cardoso aims to maintain his positive form as Atletico Madrid faces Club Brugge in a finely poised second leg. In the UEFA Conference League, Chris Richards will hope for a pain-free evening as Crystal Palace tries to progress against Zrinjski Mostar.

As the 2026 World Cup approaches, these European performances will be crucial for USMNT players looking to secure their places in the national team setup.