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Christian Pulisic was beaming with joy on Tuesday as he made his long-awaited return to training.
The USMNT standout suffered an unfortunate leg injury in early July during the World Cup round of 16, a moment that appeared to seal the fate of what became a crushing 4–1 defeat to Belgium.
Pulisic, while attempting to strike the ball, accidentally collided with the lower leg of Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans, wrenching both his ankle and knee. He initially tried to push through the pain, but it became too much to bear, forcing him off the field just before the 60-minute mark. He was spotted on the bench, head buried in his hands, visibly devastated for much of the remaining game.
The 27-year-old was later diagnosed with a bone bruise and a micro-fracture of his tibia/fibula, causing him to miss the entirety of AC Milan's preseason ahead of the new Serie A campaign. However, following more than 40 days of rehabilitation, he was deemed fit enough to participate in the opening portion of Tuesday's training session at Milanello, which included speed and agility work.
Milan kicks off the 2026–27 season on Sunday against Torino. Whether Pulisic will be available for competitive action remains unclear.
Christian Pulisic With Major Point to Prove
Exactly when Pulisic will be match-fit is still up in the air, but one thing is undeniable: he faces a steep uphill battle.
Widely regarded as one of the finest American footballers of his generation, "Captain America" has fallen well short of expectations over the past year, largely due to his recurring injury issues. A career revival is now an urgent necessity.
The Hershey, Pennsylvania native had already arrived at the World Cup with plenty to prove. Stuck in an international goal drought stretching back to November 2024, he also struggled to score at club level, capping off the worst season of his career: 19 straight appearances for AC Milan without finding the net, a run that began in 2025.
Soccer's biggest stage, on home soil, in front of American fans wearing his number, would have been the perfect setting for Pulisic to stage a dramatic comeback. Instead, his World Cup lasted just 45 minutes before the first of two injuries struck. He took a blow to the calf in the tournament opener against Paraguay, keeping him out until the closing stages of the group stage finale against Türkiye. He struggled to make an impact in the following match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, before picking up his second injury against Belgium.
Pulisic is well aware he fell short of expectations, which means he also knows the spotlight will be firmly on him as he looks to bounce back. In the meantime, many American fans have already begun searching for a new leader to carry the USMNT forward.
"Tough to find the words," he wrote on Instagram following the team's World Cup exit. "I want to start by saying thank you to everyone who believed. The support carried us all the way through. It simply wasn't good enough from us in the end and I wanted to deliver so much more. I still feel blessed to be a part of this team. The memories this summer will last a lifetime. It's just the start for us and for this sport in America."
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If there's one person who believes Pulisic can revive his career, it's AC Milan's new head coach Ruben Amorim.
"Pulisic is a really talented player," Amorim said recently. "Of course, he had an injury again in the World Cup that we need to assess ... I know the strengths of Pulisic. I believe in him; he will be supported in our club."
"I know he had some criticism after the World Cup elimination, but I am here to say we believe a lot in him, have a clear plan to use all the qualities that he has, so I can say to you that Pulisic is really important for us," the former Manchester United manager added.