U.S. Soccer confirmed on July 9, 2026, that Christian Pulisic, the United States international and AC Milan attacker, has sustained a microfracture and bone bruise in his right leg. The injury occurred during the match against Belgium, where he attempted a shot but collided with midfielder Youri Tielemans.
Details of Pulisic's Injury
Pulisic's injury was diagnosed following an X-ray and MRI on July 6. According to U.S. Soccer, he will be sidelined for several weeks as they collaborate with AC Milan on a recovery plan. The injury was sustained just seven minutes into the second half of the Americans' 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the round of 16.
“I just totally twisted my ankle and my knee in one play,” Pulisic stated after the match. “I mean, whatever. I have time to rest. It's just an unfortunate way to finish.”
Impact on Pulisic's Tournament
This injury adds to Pulisic's challenges during the tournament. He had already been dealing with a calf injury that he first suffered in training just two days before the team’s opening match against Paraguay. He aggravated this injury against Paraguay, which led to him being substituted at halftime.
After missing the match against Australia, Pulisic played only 32 minutes against Türkiye before returning to the starting lineup for the round-of-32 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Expected Recovery Timeline
A source confirmed to ESPN that Pulisic is expected to miss four to six weeks, indicating a potential return to training with AC Milan in August. This timeframe aligns with the beginning of the new season, where Milan is set to face Torino on August 23.
- Injury Type: Microfracture and bone bruise
- Location: Right leg (tibia/fibula)
- Recovery Time: 4-6 weeks
- Next Match: AC Milan vs. Torino on August 23
🤖 This article was rewritten by Feed and Figures' editorial AI from a report originally published by ESPN Soccer. Facts and quotes are preserved from the original; the rewrite focuses on clarity and structure. For the unedited original, see the source link below.
