A Rocky Road to Recovery
Christian Pulisic’s World Cup campaign ended abruptly in the round of 16 against Belgium, where a painful leg injury forced him to limp off the field after only 45 minutes. The incident marked the beginning of a turbulent period for the American forward, who had been trying to resurrect his club form after a difficult spell at AC Milan.
The injury kept Pulisic out of the club’s preseason entirely, and his return to training took more than 40 days. When he finally stepped back onto the Serie A pitch, the familiar scarcity of goals followed him. Since November 2024 he has endured a scoreless drought that stretched into a career‑worst 19‑game stretch without finding the net for Milan.
His struggles have not gone unnoticed by the U.S. men’s national team staff. The early World Cup exit prompted internal leadership shifts, and Pulisic’s departure from the tournament was accompanied by a quiet but telling Instagram post, where he thanked supporters while acknowledging the team’s shortcomings.
Amid the gloom, AC Milan’s newly appointed manager Ruben Amorim has offered a rare note of optimism. In recent statements he highlighted Pulisic’s importance to the squad, emphasizing that the American’s talent and work ethic remain vital assets for the club’s project. Amorim’s confidence suggests that the Milanese management still sees a future for the player despite his recent form.
Pulisic himself has kept a low profile on social media, posting only brief messages of gratitude to fans while refraining from detailed commentary on his fitness or future plans. The combination of personal perseverance, managerial backing, and the lingering question of whether he can regain his scoring touch will define the next chapter of his career.