Christian Pulisic suffered a microfracture and bone bruise in his leg during the United States' 4-1 loss to Belgium in the World Cup round of 16 on Monday, US Soccer announced. The Milan forward was injured in the second half in Seattle and was substituted shortly afterward. X-ray and MRI scans on Tuesday confirmed the injury, which is expected to keep Pulisic out for several weeks. US Soccer stated that the federation and Milan are working together on his rehabilitation plan.
Pulisic's Injury and Criticism
In the aftermath of the US's disappointing World Cup exit, some pundits focused on comments Pulisic made to journalists after the match. When asked about the injury, Pulisic said, “I just totally twisted my ankle and my knee in one play … I have time to rest. It’s just unfortunate way to finish.” Carli Lloyd, former US women's national team star and Fox analyst, tweeted the next day, “You rest when your playing career is over. Period,” seemingly directed at Pulisic. Landon Donovan, former US men's national team captain, said on his Unfiltered Soccer podcast, “the reality is, [Pulisic] came out of a World Cup knockout game at home, with his leg still intact … you would have had to fucking drag me off the field. And I would have punched the doctor in the face and said, ‘You’re not taking me off the field. Put whatever you need to put in me, and I’m staying on the field.’”
Pulisic's World Cup Campaign
Pulisic's injury-hit World Cup campaign was a major disappointment for the Americans, who reached the last 16. He played brilliantly in the first half of a 4-1 win over Paraguay but was removed at halftime after aggravating a left-calf injury. That ailment also caused him to miss the US's second group game, a 2-0 win over Australia. He came on as a substitute in a dead-rubber 3-2 loss to Turkey and started in a 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the last 32, playing 88 minutes but only occasionally dangerous.
