The 2025–2026 season of Christian Pulisic feels like a tightrope walk between two realities: that of an indispensable attacking leader for AC Milan, and that of a player slowed by recurring physical setbacks just months before a major international tournament with the United States. At 27, the former Chelsea FC winger is supposed to be at the peak of his powers. Yet this Italian campaign mostly tells the story of a talent fighting to stay upright.
For several months, Pulisic has been dealing with a hamstring issue, recently compounded by bursitis. Those problems forced him to miss important matches, including Milan’s 3–0 win away at Bologna FC 1909 on February 3.
Over the last seven Serie A matches, he has started only three times. A telling statistic that reflects a status weakened not hierarchically, but physically. Managing his workload has become a central issue at Milanello. The medical and technical staff know that one misstep could jeopardize not only the club’s run-in, but also the player’s international summer.
In a recent interview relayed by the English-language press, Pulisic broke his silence about this delicate stretch. He spoke of an unexpected “slump,” a dip in form he partly attributes to his physical setbacks. His message, summed up in nine reassuring words about his fitness, was clear: he feels he is improving. That communication matters. Pulisic is no longer the fragile young prospect from his years at Borussia Dortmund or in London. He is now the face of American soccer, and every injury carries national weight.
At Milan, his role is structural. He is often the element that brings verticality, pressing intensity, and the ability to trigger quick transitions. In a system where wingers operate almost as secondary strikers, tasked with both creating and finishing, his workload is considerable. Which also explains the wear and tear.
Despite the turbulence, the numbers speak for him. Pulisic is Milan’s top scorer this season with 10 goals in all competitions. In a collective that has at times been inconsistent, he has often been the primary source of creativity and penetration.
His influence goes beyond raw statistics. He attacks the space between fullback and center back, offers constant mobility to open passing lanes, and is efficient in key moments. In the tight, tactical matches of Serie A, his hybrid profile — a winger capable of cutting inside or operating as a second striker — remains a valuable weapon. Even during duller collective spells, he is one of the few players capable of flipping a match with a single burst of acceleration.
Milan depends on him, sometimes excessively. When he is absent, the team’s attacking output loses spontaneity. His status as the club’s top scorer illustrates that reality. He is no longer a complementary piece, but a technical offensive leader, perfectly compatible with high-level midfield quality — with players like Adrien Rabiot or Luka Modrić, the ball circulation is secure and purposeful.
Beyond Milan, another calendar weighs on his shoulders: that of the national team. On June 12, the United States will open its World Cup against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. For the United States men’s national soccer team, Pulisic is the undisputed reference point. The unofficial captain. The player around whom the attacking structure is built. His physical condition will be monitored until the very last day. The U.S. does not have an equivalent profile in terms of European experience, creativity, and the ability to decide a match with an individual moment of brilliance. His medical situation therefore becomes a national strategic concern.
Pulisic’s season illustrates a classic tension in the career of an explosive attacking player: how do you preserve physical integrity while maintaining intensity? At 27, he is entering a pivotal phase. The key will lie in the careful management of his minutes and his ability to adapt his game. He may gradually need to shift toward a style less dependent on repeated explosive efforts and more rooted in positional intelligence.
His return against Pisa signals the start of a crucial stretch. Milan are still fighting for significant objectives and need their top scorer at full capacity. For Pulisic, the coming months will determine the final narrative of this season: either it will be remembered as that of a courageous leader overcoming physical adversity, or it will leave the sense of a talent still hindered by chronic fragility.
In any case, one certainty remains: when he is at 100 percent, Christian Pulisic is still one of the most influential American players of his generation. The only question is whether his body will allow him to write the final chapter of this season in line with his ambition — and that of an entire nation.