Christian Pulisic Silences Critics with Brilliant Display as AC Milan Dominates Coppa Italia
Christian Pulisic allowed his performance on the field to speak volumes for AC Milan this Sunday.
Following recent media attention surrounding his comments defending himself against former American soccer stars who questioned his dedication to the U.S. men's national team in his documentary series "PULISIC," the 26-year-old attacking midfielder made sure to silence doubters with an impressive display during the match.
Playing as a forward in Milan's season opener, Pulisic contributed to the team's commanding 2–0 triumph over Serie B club Barri, securing their progression to the next round of the Coppa Italia before their Serie A debut against Cremonese on August 23.
Teammate Rafael Leão broke the deadlock in the 14th minute, with Pulisic adding his inaugural goal of the 2025-26 season three minutes into the second half, clinching the win before the passionate San Siro crowd.
Pulisic's strike featured excellent North American teamwork, as Mexico's Santiago Giménez intercepted an errant Barri pass in the middle of the park before linking up with Pulisic, who swiftly pivoted and converted for the decisive 2–0 advantage.
Beyond finding the net, Pulisic generated five scoring opportunities and struck the woodwork in a display that saw him register 56 touches, including nine within the penalty area. Additionally, compatriot Yunus Musah entered the contest and maintained perfect passing accuracy with 15 successful passes while creating one chance during his 24-minute substitute appearance.
Among other notable performers, Croatian icon Luka Modrić made his AC Milan bow, with the 39-year-old featuring in his first club fixture since departing Real Madrid following 13 campaigns with Los Blancos.
This campaign, the Rossoneri aim to surpass their eighth-place Serie A finish from 2024–25, while Pulisic seeks to enhance his tally of 17 goals and 12 assists across 50 appearances in all competitions, establishing momentum before the 2026 FIFA World Cup takes place domestically.