SEATTLE — Christian Pulisic’s 2026 World Cup was in no way what he or America hoped it would be. It began with a 45-minute flash of transcendent talent. It became a microcosm of his career: influential but inconsistent, incisive but injury-prone. It began with so much hype and hope but ended with promise unfulfilled, with a sprained ankle and pained frustration.What it did not end with, to be abundantly clear, is Pulisic wanting a rest.Yet that has become a primary line of criticism being hurled at Pulisic in the aftermath of the U.S. men’s national team’s deflating World Cup exit.After a 4-1 loss to Belgium in the round of 16, Pulisic gave an interview to Fox in which he said of his injury: “It’s just frustrating to end like that, of course, but now I have time to rest, so hopefully it’ll be OK.”The 10-second answer, stripped from the broader interview, led some critics, including former U.S. national team players, to believe that in Pulisic’s mind, rest was consolation for the loss.But in reality, he was feeling just the opposite.In the same interview, he said of the once-magical World Cup run: “I never wanted it to end.”Around an hour later, speaking to print reporters in the so-called mixed zone, he said five of those same words — “I have time to rest” — but it was clear that he said them to downplay the injury.His point was that his physical pain was a footnote on the big-picture pain that he and tens of millions of U.S. soccer fans were feeling.His very next words in the mixed zone were: “It’s just an unfortunate way to finish.”And he soon continued: “It’s — it’s really difficult.”When asked to reflect on his performance at this World Cup, Pulisic said: “I mean, I felt really good this summer playing with the guys, and I thought my level was high. It’s disappointing, I didn’t quite have the moments I was hoping to, and to try to help us really push and get over this next step of beating a really good team. So, I’m disappointed with myself, of course. But I’m gonna try to stay positive. I did a lot of good things, and the team did as well.”Did the USMNT get a serious reality check against Belgium? Felipe CardenasWas his outlook a bit too rosy after the biggest letdown in American soccer history? Perhaps.And could Pulisic have done more, either in preparation for this summer or on the pitch Monday night? Of course he could have.But the one line of criticism that is absolutely off base is the one that accuses Pulisic of not caring.