Christian Pulisic suffers leg microfracture, out several weeks

The AC Milan forward left the U.S.'s round-of-16 game on 59 minutes. — Maddy Grassy / AP Photo

By James Horncastle, Henry Bushnell, and Paul Tenorio

U.S. forward Christian Pulisic suffered a bone bruise and microfracture in his right leg during Monday's World Cup loss to Belgium, and will be sidelined for several weeks but not months, multiple people briefed on the diagnosis told The Athletic.

Injury Details

Pulisic appeared to sustain the injury in the 52nd minute of the U.S. men's national team's 4-1 defeat, when he wound up to take a shot at the edge of the penalty box but instead kicked the back of Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans' calf.

• Pulisic tried to play through the injury for several minutes but hobbled around the field.
• He was substituted in the 59th minute.
• Subsequent medical assessments revealed a bone bruise and microfracture of the tibia/fibula.

"I just totally twisted my ankle and my knee in one play," Pulisic said after the match.

Recovery Timeline

The estimated timeframe for Pulisic's recovery puts him on track to return sometime in August, meaning he could be back in training ahead of the new Serie A season. AC Milan begin their campaign away at Torino on August 23.

Pulisic was seen on crutches at the U.S. team hotel the following day and would not have been able to play in subsequent World Cup games if the U.S. had advanced.

Match Context

The first half of Monday's round-of-16 match against Belgium was Pulisic's worst half of the tournament. The U.S. trailed only 2-1 early in the second half when he received the ball at the top of the box, opened up his body, and attempted to shoot. When Tielemans intervened:

• Pulisic's left ankle rolled outward as feet collided.
• His right leg also whacked into Tielemans'.
• He went to the turf and stayed down for less than a minute.
• He got up and tried to stay in the game but was clearly hampered and in pain.

Key Moments After Injury

| Minute | Event | |--------|-------| | 54' | Tried to run behind Belgium's defense but pulled up hobbling after the ball didn't reach him | | 55' | Struggled to make another run off the ball | | 56' | Received a ball in the pocket but couldn't do anything with it, continued hobbling | | 59' | Replaced by Sebastian Berhalter immediately after Belgium scored its third goal |

Pulisic gritted his teeth and pursed his lips, in apparent pain, as he walked toward the bench. He was later pictured slumping in his seat, pulling his jersey up over his face, as an athletic trainer examined his right leg.

Christian Pulisic is visibly upset on the bench after being subbed off in the second half — FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 7, 2026

Additional Context

It was the winger's second injury of the World Cup. He set up two U.S. goals in the first half against Paraguay before leaving that match as well.

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