Christian Pulisic will miss several weeks after suffering a fractured right leg in the United States' 4-1 World Cup loss to Belgium in Seattle. It is a blow for both the United States and AC Milan, with the forward now facing a race to return in time for the early stages of the new season.
The injury happened on Monday in the round-of-16 defeat, and Pulisic underwent an X-ray and MRI on Tuesday before the U.S. Soccer Federation confirmed on Thursday that he has a bone bruise and a microfracture of his tibia and fibula. That diagnosis at least gives a clearer picture of the damage, even if the timeline still leaves him sidelined for a significant spell.
A setback at the wrong moment
Pulisic has already had a disrupted World Cup. He missed one of the Americans' five matches with a calf injury and left two other games early, then failed to score in the tournament. For a player with 30 goals in 90 international appearances, that lack of continuity matters, because his influence is usually built on rhythm as much as talent.
The United States also lost one of the players they rely on most in decisive moments. In the 52nd minute against Belgium, Sebastian Berhalter came on for Pulisic, but the damage had already been done to the Americans' shape and attacking edge. Once Pulisic went off, the burden on the rest of the front line grew immediately.
What it means for Milan
The timing is also awkward for AC Milan. Pulisic is entering his fourth season with the club, and he is expected to resume training before the Serie A opener at Torino on Aug. 23. That does not erase the setback, but it does suggest the injury is measured in weeks rather than months.
For Milan, the key issue will be whether he can return sharp enough to contribute quickly when the season begins. For the United States, the more immediate concern is simpler: their best attacking option has been lost, and a competition that already asked plenty of him has now ended with an injury that needs careful recovery.
