U.S. Star Christian Pulisic Faces Weeks on Sidelines After Injury
Christian Pulisic, the United States' leading forward, was forced out of the World Cup round‑of‑16 clash with Belgium after sustaining a microfracture and bone bruise in his right leg.
The injury occurred in the second half of the match, ending a tournament that had already been hampered by a lingering calf issue that limited his earlier minutes.
U.S. Soccer announced that it will work with AC Milan, Pulisic's Serie A club, to design a recovery plan, though no specific return date has been disclosed.
The Milan medical staff have been consulted, but the club has not yet responded to requests for comment, leaving details of the rehabilitation schedule unclear.
Medical analysts suggest that such fractures typically require several weeks of healing before competitive play can resume, meaning Pulisic could miss a significant portion of the upcoming season.
Pulisic's absence is a blow to the U.S. side, which will need to adjust its attacking options as it prepares for future qualifiers and friendlies.
The Athletic first reported the potential timeline, citing sources close to the player's camp, but emphasized that the recovery will be guided by clinical assessments rather than a fixed schedule.
Despite the setback, Pulisic remains under contract with AC Milan, and the collaboration between the national federation and the club underscores a growing partnership aimed at integrating top‑flight talent with the national team's medical resources.