Christian Pulisic out with fractured foot after US’s painful World Cup loss to Belgium
Christian Pulisic’s World Cup campaign ended in tragedy as the American talisman suffered a broken right leg during the United States’ 4-1 loss to Belgium in the Round of 16. The AC Milan star is expected to be sidelined for several weeks due to the injury, confirmed by an unnamed source and first reported by The Athletic, jeopardizing his preparations for the upcoming Serie A season.
The decisive moment came in the 52nd minute in Seattle, when Pulisic collided with Belgium captain Youri Tielemans while attempting a shot. Despite trying to play early on, the 27-year-old was clearly in trouble, limping off before being replaced by Sebastian Berhalter in the 59th minute. The diagnosis reportedly includes bone bruises and microfractures to both the tibia and fibula, a significant blow for both club and country. The US Soccer Federation has not yet released an official statement on Pulisic’s status.
Pulisic’s World Cup turned into a nightmare as he failed to find the net, missed one group-stage match due to a calf injury, and exited early in two others. In the opening match of the tournament – a 4–1 win over Paraguay – he was replaced at halftime due to calf trouble, then missed the entire 2–0 win against Australia. After the US topped their group, coach Mauricio Pochettino rotated his team for the final game, resulting in a disappointing 3–2 defeat.
Some respite came with a 2–0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 in the knockout stages, but in that match star striker Folarin Balogun was sent off following a VAR review. This was followed by a heavy defeat to Belgium due to an injury to Pulisic, marking a bitter conclusion to the country’s campaign.
Despite the setback, there are hopes Pulisic can return to training for AC Milan’s Serie A opener against Torino on August 23. The Pennsylvania-born forward, who will turn 28 in September and boasts 30 goals in 90 international caps, is set to start his fourth season with the Italian giants – if his recovery goes to plan.
The American team entered the World Cup in strong form but was worried about the fitness of its star player. Pulisic’s absence and premature departure ultimately overshadowed a campaign that promised much but ended in disappointment.
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