Christian Pulisic’s 2026 World Cup ended the way nobody wanted it to: on a stretcher, with a fractured right leg, watching Belgium dismantle the US men’s national team 4-1 in the round of 16. The AC Milan star and USMNT captain went down after colliding with Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans while attempting a shot in the 59th minute on July 7.
What happened to Pulisic
The injury occurred when Pulisic planted his right foot and twisted his leg during contact with Tielemans.
After the match, Pulisic confirmed that he twisted both his ankle and his knee on the play. He indicated a potential fracture or microfracture in addition to the ankle sprain, though the full extent of the damage will require further medical evaluation.
This wasn’t Pulisic’s first injury scare of the tournament. He had already missed time earlier in the World Cup due to a calf injury, which limited his availability and effectiveness throughout the group stage. He finished the entire tournament without scoring a single goal, recording just one assist across his appearances.
