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U.S. men's national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino was surely pleased when Christian Pulisic netted the decisive goal in AC Milan's 2–1 victory over Genoa on Sunday.
Pulisic is finally moving on from a disappointing summer with the national side. The attacker was largely invisible during the USMNT's run to the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup, but he is rediscovering his top form at Milan under new manager Ruben Amorim.
The Rossoneri were eager to respond after a dismal 2–0 loss to Ferencváros in the Europa League on Thursday. Pulisic, who only entered as a substitute in the second half of that midweek clash, was restored to the starting lineup days later and added another goal to his growing tally this season.
Milan exploited a disorganized Genoa defense in the opening stages, with Alphadjo Cisse finding the net just 13 minutes in before Pulisic extended the lead six minutes later. The American connected with a cutback from Gonçalo Ramos, took a single touch to control and fired a shot into the back of the net.
Genoa pulled one back in the 88th minute, but Amorim's side never appeared at risk of throwing away the result. At the final whistle, it was another three points for Milan, lifting them to fourth place in the Serie A table.
Pulisic Back to His Former Self
For much of 2026, Pulisic resembled a shadow of the player who began the 2025–26 campaign with 10 goals and two assists. The 28-year-old went from January through May without scoring for Milan, and he also failed to get on the scoresheet at last summer's World Cup.
The only goal Pulisic managed in the first eight months of the year came in the USMNT's 3–2 win over Senegal—and that was merely an international friendly.
But after earning Amorim's confidence, Pulisic is now a regular starter for Milan and hitting his stride once again. The former Chelsea winger now has four goals and one assist in 11 appearances this season.
Three of those goals have arrived since club football resumed following the September-October international break, as though Pulisic was determined to make a statement to Pochettino after the Argentine coach left him out of the USMNT's four autumn friendlies.
Needless to say, Pulisic has now firmly recaptured Pochettino's attention.
Pulisic's Resurgence Just in Time for Concacaf Nations League
Pochettino announced his squad for the November international window, and Pulisic secured a place in the 25-man roster. The Milan star is joined by fellow returning regulars Weston McKennie and Folarin Balogun, who were also left out by Pochettino on the previous occasion.
The USMNT is preparing for the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals, where they will face Haiti in a two-legged home-and-away tie. It represents the first competitive matches since the World Cup.
Should the Stars and Stripes eliminate Haiti, they will not only progress to the Nations League semifinals but will also secure automatic qualification for the 2027 Gold Cup.
It is the ideal moment for Pulisic to reassert himself with the national team, particularly with emerging talents like Cavan Sullivan and Julian Hall grabbing headlines during the September-October international window.
Ironically, Pulisic has not scored in a competitive match for the USMNT since the 2024–25 Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals against Jamaica, nearly two years ago to the day. Nobody would feel a greater sense of relief seeing the ball hit the back of the net than the once-celebrated player who has gradually faded into the background on the international stage.