Christian Pulisic out several weeks with leg microfracture after USMNT World Cup loss

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
• "I just totally twisted my ankle and my knee in one play," he said after the match
• Subsequent medical assessments revealed a bone bruise and microfracture of the tibia/fibula

Recovery Timeline

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.

The estimated recovery timeframe 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.

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, and his right leg also whacked into Tielemans'.

Sequence of Events After Injury

• 52nd minute: Pulisic goes to the turf and stays down for less than a minute
• 54th minute: He tries to run behind Belgium's defense but pulls up hobbling after the ball doesn't reach him
• 55th minute: He struggles to make another run off the ball
• 56th minute: He receives a ball in the pocket but cannot do anything with it and continues hobbling
• 59th minute: U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino substitutes Pulisic, replaced by Sebastian Berhalter immediately after Belgium scores 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

This was Pulisic's second injury of the World Cup. He set up two U.S. goals in the first half against Paraguay before leaving that game at halftime.

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