Christian Pulisic's World Cup came to a disappointing end when he exited the US's last-16 tie against Belgium after less than an hour due to an injury. The US lost 4-1, ending their campaign on home soil.
Pulisic's Limited Impact
Pulisic, who has been the face of the US men's national team since 2017, struggled to make an impact throughout the tournament. After a promising first half against Paraguay in the opening match, where he created two chances and completed four dribbles, he was forced off at halftime with a leg injury. He missed the next game against Australia and came off the bench against Turkey.
In the last-16 match, Pulisic lost the ball 14 times before exiting in the 59th minute, making him the most dispossessed player on either side, according to ESPN FC. He attempted only one shot, which was blocked, and none of his 23 completed passes led to a shot.
Criticism from Analysts
Fox analyst Carli Lloyd voiced disappointment in Pulisic's performance. "I think big-time players – you wanted some of those big-time players to step up in big moments," Lloyd said. "I gotta be honest, I was a bit disappointed with Christian Pulisic. I think whether he wants to be the star of this team or not, we didn’t see enough from him in this particular game and really the whole World Cup. Little glimpses here and there."
Team's Struggles
The US struggled overall, with Sergiño Dest substituted at halftime and Belgium dominating midfield. Malik Tillman, who scored the US's only goal from a free kick, said, "I think they played to their advantage, and I think we had more possession, but we didn’t really find a way to be dangerous."
Looking Ahead
Pulisic, now 27, is expected to remain a key player for the national team in the 2030 World Cup cycle. He said, "There’s still a lot more that we want to accomplish." However, his legacy has been clarified: the World Cup came to North America, and the US played all five games on home soil, but their success largely came without Pulisic's involvement.
