Christian Pulisic didn't just limp off against Belgium. He did so with a microfracture in his tibia/fibula — a diagnosis that casts a shadow over his start to what was already shaping up to be a season he couldn't afford to stumble through.
The Athletic has reported that Pulisic suffered both a bone bruise and a microfracture during the USMNT's 4-1 elimination loss, when he accidentally caught Youri Tielemans's leg while winding up for a shot. He tried to play on. He couldn't. And the injury, it turns out, would have ended his tournament regardless of the result.
The recovery timeline is weeks, not months — but those weeks matter. He's projected to return in mid-to-late August, with Serie A kicking off on August 23. There's a real chance Pulisic misses Milan's opener entirely, and walks into Ruben Amorim's first competitive campaign short on rhythm and match sharpness.
Amorim believes in him. Not everyone does.
Milan's new manager — arriving from Manchester United this summer — has been vocal in his support. "He is a player who can make the difference," Amorim said of Pulisic's ability to operate in tight spaces against defensive Italian sides. "I know he had some criticism after the World Cup elimination, but I am here to say we believe a lot in him."
That "some criticism" framing is doing a lot of heavy lifting. USMNT fans haven't just grumbled — former U.S. soccer figures have publicly gone after Pulisic, partly for his performances but more pointedly for his post-match comments. After the Belgium loss, when asked about the injury, he said: "It's just frustrating to end like that, of course, but now I have time to rest, so hopefully it'll be OK."
The backlash was immediate. Even now, with the microfracture confirmed, critics haven't fully backed off — the resentment runs deeper than one press conference quote. Pulisic skipped last summer's Gold Cup to rest ahead of this World Cup cycle. His return: no club goals since December 2025, one strike on the year in a May friendly against Senegal, and an early exit.
Milan's patience has a shelf life
The context at club level isn't comfortable either. Milan's second half of 2025-26 was poor enough to cost the previous manager his job. Amorim has been brought in to rebuild — and Pulisic, who hasn't scored in over six months at club level, is being asked to be a cornerstone of that rebuild.
Amorim's system does suit his profile. The USMNT winger thrives in congested spaces, pressing lines, picking pockets in tight areas — all useful in a league where defensive structure is religion. If the partnership clicks, the optimism makes sense. But Pulisic is already starting behind on fitness, form, and goodwill.
Serie A's early match betting will reflect that uncertainty. A Milan side with Amorim freshly installed and their most recognizable attacker injured before a ball is kicked is a difficult thing to price with confidence.
"Pulisic is really important for us," Amorim said. The question is when, exactly, Milan gets to find that out.
