Christian Pulisic Suffers Leg Fracture in US World Cup Loss to Belgium
United States captain Christian Pulisic will be sidelined for several weeks after suffering a fracture in his right leg during the Americans' 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16. U.S. Soccer confirmed the injury following medical examinations conducted after Monday's match in Seattle.
The injury ends Pulisic's World Cup campaign and would have ruled him out for the remainder of the tournament had the United States advanced beyond the knockout stage.
Despite the setback, the AC Milan forward is expected to recover in time for the start of the 2026-27 Serie A season.
How serious is Christian Pulisic's injury?
U.S. Soccer said medical scans revealed that Pulisic suffered a bone bruise along with a microfracture of both the tibia and fibula in his right leg.
The diagnosis was confirmed following X-rays and an MRI conducted on Tuesday.
Team officials said the injury will keep the American star out for several weeks, although his recovery timeline is expected to allow him to return before AC Milan's opening Serie A fixture against Torino on Aug. 23.
How did Pulisic suffer the injury?
Pulisic was injured during the 52nd minute of the Round of 16 match against Belgium while attempting a shot on goal.
His kicking leg collided with Belgium captain Youri Tielemans during the effort.
Although Pulisic continued playing after the incident, he was visibly struggling with the injury before being substituted in the 59th minute for Sebastian Berhalter.
The United States eventually lost the match 4-1, ending its World Cup campaign.
How did Pulisic perform duringthe World Cup?
The tournament proved challenging for the U.S. captain as injuries limited his impact.
Pulisic did not score during the competition and missed one of the Americans' five matches because of a calf injury. He also left two other matches before full time due to fitness concerns.
Despite those setbacks, he remains one of the most accomplished players in U.S. men's national team history with 30 goals in 90 international appearances.
What does the injury mean for AC Milan?
Pulisic is entering his fourth season with AC Milan after becoming an important part of the club's attack in Serie A.
While he will miss part of preseason preparations, U.S. Soccer expects him to resume training before Milan begins its league campaign against Torino on Aug. 23.
His recovery will be closely monitored by both club and national team medical staff as he works toward full fitness.
Questions About Christian Pulisic's Injury
What injury did Christian Pulisic suffer?
Pulisic sustained a bone bruise along with microfractures to the tibia and fibula in his right leg during the United States' World Cup defeat to Belgium.
How long will Pulisic be out?
U.S. Soccer expects Pulisic to miss several weeks but anticipates he will return to training before AC Milan's Serie A opener against Torino.
How was Pulisic injured?
He suffered the injury while attempting a shot in the 52nd minute when his leg collided with Belgium captain Youri Tielemans.
Will Pulisic miss the start of the Serie A season?
At this stage, U.S. Soccer expects him to recover in time for AC Milan's opening league match, although his rehabilitation will continue over the coming weeks.
Pulisic's injury brings a disappointing end to a difficult World Cup campaign for the United States and its captain. Attention now turns to his rehabilitation, with both U.S. Soccer and AC Milan hopeful he will be fit for the start of the new club season.
