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. The US lost 4-1 in a match that highlighted the team's struggles without their star player.
Pulisic's Injury and Performance
Pulisic left the match in the 59th minute after a clumsy collision with a Belgium opponent twisted both his ankle and knee. Before his exit, he lost the ball 14 times, making him the most dispossessed player from either side, according to ESPN FC. He managed only one shot, which was blocked, and none of his 23 completed passes led to a shot.
Tournament Overview
Pulisic's tournament began promisingly with a standout performance against Paraguay, where he created two chances, including an assist, completed four dribbles, and won seven of 10 duels. However, he was substituted at half-time due to a kick to his leg. He missed the second group-stage game against Australia and came off the bench against Turkey. In the last-32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, he played 88 minutes but lacked end product.
Post-Match Reactions
After the match, Fox analyst Carli Lloyd voiced disappointment in Pulisic's performance, saying, "I think big-time players – you wanted some of those big-time players to step up in big moments. 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."
Pulisic himself reflected on the tournament, saying, "I mean, it exceeded expectations just with it being in America, with the fans, the support that we felt. The energy in the games, the way the guys fought and the time we were able to spend together as a group is what I'll take with me the most. So it was an awesome summer."
Team Struggles
Teammate Malik Tillman, who scored the US's only goal from a direct free-kick, acknowledged the team's difficulties: "I know Belgium is a good team, and they have great players. 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. That's something we have to work on."
US coach Mauricio Pochettino expressed hope that Pulisic's ankle injury was not serious and that he would reintegrate with AC Milan after the break. At 27, Pulisic is expected to remain a key player for the US in the 2030 World Cup cycle.
