The United States national team has verified that forward Christian Pulisic suffered a leg fracture during the team’s 4-1 loss to Belgium in the World Cup round of 16. The 27-year-old was taken off the field in the 59th minute, shortly after Belgium extended their lead to three goals in Seattle.
The injury occurred early in the second half when Pulisic attempted a strike but accidentally collided with the leg of Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans. An official statement from US Soccer confirmed that Pulisic sustained a microfracture and a bone bruise affecting both his tibia and fibula. Both US Soccer and his club, AC Milan, are working together to determine his rehabilitation strategy.
Following their exit from the tournament, the US squad faced significant media scrutiny regarding their performance and Pulisic’s early departure. Notable figures such as Carli Lloyd expressed disappointment in his overall tournament impact, while Landon Donovan questioned the decision to substitute him. Although no specific return date has been established, reports suggest Pulisic will be out for several weeks. AC Milan is scheduled to open their Serie A season against Torino on August 23.
