The USMNT is gearing up for its biggest FIFA World Cup, and Christian Pulisic will be the key player for Mauricio Pochettino’s side. With just months left for the tournament, the American is dealing with injury issues.
Christian Pulisic Facing Injury Issues Again
Pulisic’s fitness is once again the big talking point among the fans as the AC Milan star has missed several matches this season. The forward missed the 3-0 win over Bologna this week, and Max Allegri confirmed that it was an injury-related absence.
The former Chelsea man had bursitis and has missed training for the last 10 days. The issue in isolation seems minor, but the consistency of his injuries has led fans to worry about his availability at the World Cup.
The Bologna match was the sixth game he has missed this season due to injury issues. He missed four games in October and November due to a hamstring issue, and then had to sit out another match within a month due to a muscle issue.
The USMNT record $73 million signing has always had injury issues from his Chelsea days, where he suffered several muscle injuries and a knee problem just before he made the switch to San Siro. The 27-year-old’s talent has undoubtedly put him among the best-ever talents in United States history, and he was also dubbed the LeBron James of Soccer at one point.
However, concerns about the recent injuries were also raised by USMNT head coach Pochettino at a recent press conference. He highlighted the constant unavailability as an issue for his squad planning ahead of the FIFA World Cup, but hoped to have the forward among his options this summer. He said:
“What I’m seeing is that Christian is playing, then not playing, then on the bench. There’s a game he plays and a game he doesn’t play. Of course, he’s suffering to be consistent…The hope is if that Christian can be consistent and play in a regular way. He’s an important player that we wish could be fit, first for March, and then, like all players, will be fit and available for selection.”
Pulisic skipped the 2025 Gold Cup and took a lot of heat from fans, pundits, and Pochettino. Should he miss the FIFA World Cup for any reason, questions will be raised about the USMNT star’s qualities, as availability is always the primary focus.
