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Christian Pulisic is said to have sustained a microfracture in his leg during the USMNT's World Cup loss to Belgium, a setback that could affect his availability at the start of the new campaign with AC Milan.
Shortly after the break in the 4–1 defeat, Pulisic went down after accidentally catching Youri Tielemans's leg while preparing to shoot. He attempted to continue but managed only a few more minutes before hobbling off the pitch.
According to The Athletic, Pulisic has since been diagnosed with both a bone bruise and a microfracture of his tibia/fibula — an injury that would have ended his World Cup participation regardless of whether the USMNT had been knocked out by Belgium.
While the recovery period is not expected to stretch into months, Pulisic will require "several weeks" on the sidelines and is projected to return in mid-to-late August, which will significantly disrupt his pre-season preparations with Milan ahead of the Serie A opener on August 23.
Pulisic is already under scrutiny at Milan following a deeply underwhelming second half of the 2025–26 season. He has not found the net for his club since December 2025, with a goal in May's friendly against Senegal standing as his only strike of the calendar year at any level.
Milan's poor domestic form prompted a managerial change this summer, with former Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim taking charge.
"[Pulisic] 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," Amorim said of the winger. "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. I know he had some criticism after the World Cup elimination, but I am here to say we believe a lot in him, and have a clear plan to use all the qualities that he has. Pulisic is really important for us."
'Some Criticism' Appears to Be Huge Understatement From Amorim
Following a disappointing World Cup run, Pulisic has faced intense backlash from USMNT supporters — not only due to his underwhelming performances but also because of remarks he made in the wake of the team's elimination.
"It's just frustrating to end like that, of course, but now I have time to rest, so hopefully it'll be OK," he said when questioned about his injury after the final whistle against Belgium.
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Several former U.S. soccer figures have publicly criticized Pulisic for those comments. Even with the full extent of his injury now revealed, many continue to accuse the USMNT's key player of not giving everything he had this summer.
Pulisic notably sat out the USMNT's Gold Cup last summer, choosing to rest and recharge ahead of the 2025–26 season and this year's World Cup, meaning his limited goal return has left many supporters frustrated with the 27-year-old's overall contribution.