Christian Pulisic, once a beacon of electrifying talent on the pitch, has found himself navigating a period of struggle that has raised questions about his current form and future at AC Milan. By December 8, 2025, the USMNT talisman had completed a remarkable season and a half, firmly establishing himself among the world’s elite. His goal tally of 26 since the start of the 2024-25 season surpassed that of esteemed contemporaries like Bukayo Saka, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Phil Foden, and Cole Palmer. He was, by all accounts, the standout player in Serie A at the time, delivering crucial goals and game-changing assists for his AC Milan teammates. That December, a goal against Hellas Verona marked his 10th of the season, a significant milestone in what was shaping up to be the most prolific campaign of his career. However, this impressive strike remains his most recent goal to date, prompting an examination of the factors that have contributed to his subsequent dip in form.
The 2025-26 season for the American captain began with a strategic decision made during the summer of 2025. Pulisic opted to forgo participation in the Gold Cup with the United States Men’s National Team under Mauricio Pochettino. His singular focus was to achieve peak physical condition for the 2026 World Cup, a tournament co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, commencing in June of that year. The logic behind this decision was clear: to dedicate the entire pre-season to training with AC Milan under the guidance of new coach Massimiliano Allegri, ensuring he would be in optimal form. This approach was also influenced by AC Milan’s disappointing previous season, which saw them fail to qualify for any European tournaments. The hope was that a potentially lighter workload might prove beneficial in preventing injuries. Unfortunately, this anticipated advantage did not materialize.
Recurring Injuries: A Persistent Obstacle
Despite a highly promising start to the season, with four goals netted in the opening six Serie A fixtures, Pulisic’s momentum was abruptly halted. Between October and November, he was sidelined for five games due to a muscular injury. While he made a strong recovery, the year 2026 brought further complications, manifesting as a noticeable inconsistency in both his performances and his game time. This was a stark contrast to the dominant displays seen in the initial months of the campaign. Although he recently contributed an assist against Torino FC, Christian Pulisic has yet to find the back of the net in 2026, with his last goal still standing as the one scored on December 28. Manager Massimiliano Allegri has been forced to contend with these recurring injury issues, including bursitis, which has hampered his ability to consistently rely on Pulisic, despite the American arguably remaining the team’s most talented player.
A New Role: Tactical Adjustments and Unfulfilled Potential
One of the most significant tactical decisions made by Massimiliano Allegri in the summer of 2025 was the reassignment of Pulisic to a new role. Allegri’s astute tactical intuition led him to deploy Pulisic further up the pitch, often in a 3-5-2 formation, partnering him with the central striker. This shift initially proved to be one of the Italian manager’s most successful strategies, significantly boosting Pulisic’s performances during the first half of the season. The intended ideal partnership, however, was envisioned between Pulisic and Rafael Leão. The unfortunate reality was that both players were plagued by recurring injuries, preventing Allegri from fielding them together in the starting lineup as frequently as he desired. Despite these limitations, their individual statistics have remained positive when compared to the previous season.
A year prior, Leão made 28 appearances, starting 21 matches and accumulating 1,826 minutes on the field, scoring five goals and providing eight assists. Pulisic, in the same period, also featured in 28 games, but with more starts (25) and 1,685 minutes played, contributing nine goals and eight assists. This current season, Leão has so far participated in 22 matches, with 18 starts and 1,492 minutes played. His goal tally has seen a significant increase to nine, though his assist count has dropped to two. Pulisic, on the other hand, has appeared in 23 games, starting 16 and playing 1,290 minutes, registering eight goals and three assists. While Leão has become a more decisive goal threat compared to last season, Pulisic’s numbers remain solid, albeit with a slight dip in consistency regarding starts and overall impact.
Contract Talks: Lingering Questions About His Future
Adding another layer of complexity to Pulisic’s current situation are the ongoing discussions surrounding his future at AC Milan. His current contract is set to expire in the summer of 2027, and talks over a new deal are still in progress. In an interview with Men’s Journal ahead of upcoming USMNT fixtures, Pulisic expressed his focus on the present while simultaneously acknowledging the possibility of a future move, given that a new contract with the Italian giants has yet to be signed. He stated, "I don’t talk with my agent about clubs or about going somewhere else. It doesn’t really affect me, so it doesn’t influence me at all. Of course, when the time comes to talk about it, and there are options, I’ll do that, but this isn’t the moment. I’m happy to be here right now, so I’m focusing as much as possible on that." With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon and uncertainties surrounding his club future, the upcoming summer is poised to be a defining period. Both the player and AC Milan face the imperative to find a resolution in the short term, ideally before the World Cup, where Pulisic will be expected to make a significant impact for Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT in what is anticipated to be one of the most eagerly awaited World Cups in recent memory. The confluence of these factors – persistent injuries, a shifting tactical landscape, and unresolved contract negotiations – paints a comprehensive picture of why Christian Pulisic is currently experiencing a challenging period in his career.
