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Star attacker Christian Pulisic is giving Mauricio Pochettino plenty to reconsider after leaving him out of the fall international window.
Last week, the U.S. men's national team head coach unveiled his 28-man squad for the expanded September–October camp beginning Monday, which features four international friendlies. The USMNT's most recognizable face was a stunning absentee.
Pochettino even had an opportunity to bring Pulisic in as a late addition this weekend after striker Ricardo Pepi was ruled out through injury. The Argentine coach nonetheless stood firm in his exclusion of the 28-year-old, opting for forward Damion Downs as Pepi's replacement rather than the USMNT's all-time leading scorer (33 goals) and most-capped active player (90 caps).
Pochettino had sent a clear message: A player's history with the USMNT carries no weight. Only current form matters. And, truthfully, Pulisic hasn't been delivering.
"It's a completely different approach than it was in the past," Pochettino said following his squad announcement. "The World Cup is in four years. We need to work with different objectives and goals, and for different reasons, this roster is the best roster that we can design for this camp."
Pulisic stepped onto the pitch for club side AC Milan on Sunday with a point to prove, eager to show Pochettino that his current form is still as formidable as any previous version of the beloved "Captain America."
Pulisic Dazzles in AC Milan Victory
In his first start of the new club campaign, Pulisic delivered a stunning performance.
The winger earned his spot on the right side, finally breaking into new manager Ruben Amorim's starting eleven after spending three matches as an unused substitute and two more as a second-half option. Despite carrying the weight of being overlooked, Pulisic found the net just 14 minutes into the Serie A fixture against Lecce.
Latching onto a long ball from center back Strahinja Pavlović, Pulisic burst in behind Lecce's defensive line and into the penalty area, expertly controlling the bouncing pass before slotting it into the corner of the net — all without breaking stride.
Pulisic ✨ pic.twitter.com/VWrUWJZ4w3
Leaping into the air in celebration, it marked not only Pulisic's first goal of the new season, but also his first for Milan since December 2025, snapping a 21-game scoreless run that undoubtedly factored into Pochettino's decision to leave him out of the USMNT squad this fall.
Pulisic had been struggling not just at club level, but on the international stage as well. He endured a frustrating summer at the 2026 World Cup, accumulating more injuries (two) than goal contributions (one), and in the round of 16 against Belgium, he was unable to inspire the Stars and Stripes when they needed their key man most.
It's safe to say Pulisic was overdue for a personal highlight, and he didn't let Sunday's momentum fade. He remained the most threatening player on the field, repeatedly bursting in behind the hosts' backline. His relentless runs effectively neutralized Lecce's attacking ambitions, as they were hesitant to push their defensive line higher. Pulisic departed in the 69th minute having recorded a game-high five touches inside the opposition's penalty box, earning "Player of the Match" honors in the comprehensive 3–0 win.
Pulisic's display this weekend won't alter his standing on the USMNT fringe, and he'll still be watching his teammates from home next week. However, it may prompt Pochettino to reconsider him going forward.
Pulisic will need to sustain that level, though. Flashes of brilliance have become his pattern in recent years, and as Pochettino has made crystal clear, that simply isn't enough.