U.S. forward Christian Pulisic suffered a bone bruise and a microfracture in his lower right leg during Monday’s 4-1 World Cup round-of-16 loss to Belgium. The 27-year-old will miss several weeks of action, though he is expected to return to training with AC Milan before the Serie A season begins on August 23, when the club gets its campaign underway away at Torino.
The Mechanism of the Injury
The injury occurred in the 52nd minute of the match when Pulisic, attempting a shot at the edge of the penalty box, opened up his body and kicked the back of Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans’ calf. Pulisic’s left ankle rolled outward as their feet collided and his right leg whacked into Tielemans. Pulisic went to the turf and stayed down for a little less than a minute. He attempted to play through the pain for several minutes, but he was clearly hampered and in pain, bending at the waist and wincing. He limped through the next few minutes, pulling up hobbling after failing to reach a ball in the 54th minute, and was eventually replaced by Sebastian Berhalter in the 59th minute, immediately after Belgium scored its third goal.
Medical evaluations confirmed a bone bruise and microfracture of the tibia/fibula, according to sources briefed on the diagnosis. Pulisic was seen on crutches at the U.S. team hotel the following day. This marks the second time in this tournament Pulisic has been sidelined; he previously set up two U.S. goals in the first half against Paraguay before leaving the game at halftime with a calf injury that kept him out of the Australia game. He later returned as a substitute against Turkey before starting the knockout win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. After the match, Pulisic told reporters, I just totally twisted my ankle and my knee in one play.
Public Criticism and Locker Room Dynamics
Pulisic’s postgame comments to Fox, where he said, “It’s just frustrating to end like that, of course, but now I have time to rest, so hopefully it’ll be OK,” drew sharp rebukes. USWNT legend Carli Lloyd wrote on social media, “You rest when your playing career is over. Period.” Former USMNT star Landon Donovan, speaking on his Unfiltered podcast, stated that “you would have had to f***ing drag me off the field.”
Donovan further elaborated that the frustration surrounding the winger extends beyond his on-field availability. Donovan claimed that he speaks to people at U.S. Soccer, sponsors, teammates, and staff who are “fed up” with the influence exerted by Pulisic’s inner circle. “And it’s not necessarily him, but it’s his agents, his family, his hangers-on, the people that are influencing (him). People are fed up with it. They treat people poorly. They do things poorly. It’s always a no whenever you want to ask him to do an interview. It’s always a no; you can’t get near him.”
Tensions Regarding Media and Availability
Donovan suggested Pulisic needs to “man up” and have a conversation with his representatives regarding his media approach. The rift between the two intensified last year when Pulisic opted not to compete in the Concacaf Gold Cup, choosing instead to rest during the club offseason. Donovan acknowledged they “don’t have a great relationship” and that he does not think Pulisic respects him.
Future Outlook at AC Milan
Pulisic’s recovery puts him on track to return in August, allowing time for training before the Serie A season. AC Milan’s new coach, Ruben Amorim, spoke about Pulisic on Wednesday, calling the 27-year-old a “really talented player.” Amorim added, “He is perfect for the way I think about football, especially here in Italy where sometimes the teams defend so well that there is less space between the lines. He is a player who can make the difference in that kind of space. I know the strengths of Pulisic, I believe in him, he will be supported in our club.”
This injury marks the second consecutive World Cup in which Pulisic has missed time. In Qatar, he suffered a pelvic injury scoring the goal against Iran that sent the U.S. to the knockout stage. As documented in the HBO film U.S. Against the World, Pulisic insisted he did not need to go to the hospital at that time, though he eventually did, returning for the team’s 3-1 loss to the Netherlands in the round of 16.
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