Christian Pulisic ended a nearly six-month goal drought with a fine finish in the US men's national team's 3-2 friendly win over Senegal on Sunday. The Milan midfielder, who had not scored for club or country since November 2024, also provided an assist in a performance that eased concerns ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Pulisic, who had grown visibly frustrated with repeated questions about his form, set up Sergiño Dest for the opening goal before scoring the second himself. After rounding the goalkeeper and finishing from a tight angle, he sprinted to the corner flag in an emotional celebration, mobbed by teammates.
“Hopefully now people can stop talking about it,” Pulisic told reporters. “I’ve felt this confidence the whole time. I’ve played really well in recent months. Obviously this was just a friendly – we have big games ahead and I have to be ready.”
US head coach Mauricio Pochettino praised Pulisic's 45-minute display but stressed the need for consistency. “His performance today was really, really good, but I think he still has potential to improve,” Pochettino said. Teammate Weston McKennie backed the playmaker, saying: “He shows up in the moments that we need him the most. We believe in him.”
The win restores some positivity for the US as they prepare to co-host the World Cup. Pulisic, widely regarded as the nation's greatest male player, will hope to carry this form into the tournament.
