Christian Pulisic Returns to Milan Training Following 4-1 World Cup Loss

Christian Pulisic rejoined AC Milan training on Tuesday after recovering from a microfracture sustained during the United States' 4-1 defeat against Belgium.

Christian Pulisic returned to AC Milan training on Tuesday for the first time since the United States men's national team exited the World Cup in the round of 16. The 27-year-old attacker sustained a bone bruise and a microfracture in his lower leg during a 4-1 defeat to Belgium on July 6. The injury occurred seven minutes into the second half when Pulisic attempted a shot on goal but struck the back of midfielder Youri Tielemans' leg. This collision resulted in the player missing the entirety of Milan's preseason schedule. Following the 4-1 loss, Pulisic described the incident by stating he totally twisted his ankle and knee in one play. Initial medical reports indicated the recovery timeline would span between four and six weeks.

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The American international expressed disappointment with himself regarding his fitness during the home tournament, where he battled multiple physical setbacks. Beyond the lower leg fracture, Pulisic dealt with a calf injury first sustained in a training session two days prior to the opening match against Paraguay. Pulisic’s tournament availability fluctuated due to these recurring ailments. After aggravating his calf against Paraguay, he was substituted at halftime and subsequently sat out the following fixture against Australia. He managed 32 minutes of action against Türkiye before returning to the starting lineup for the round-of-32 clash. In that knockout stage game, Pulisic played 88 minutes as the United States secured a 2-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina. However, his participation ended during the subsequent round-of-16 match against Belgium following the 52nd-minute collision with Tielemans.

Latest developments

Tuesday's session marked Pulisic's first opportunity to work under new head coach Ruben Amorim, though he only completed a partial portion of the team drills. AC Milan is scheduled to begin the Serie A campaign this Sunday with an away fixture at Torino. Despite his return to the grass, reports from Italy indicate the winger is unlikely to feature in the season opener. Instead, medical staff are targeting the home opener against Venezia on Aug. 28 for his competitive return to the squad. While recovering, Pulisic remained a central figure in club media, recently unveiling the AC Milan 2026-27 away kit. His status has also been the subject of transfer speculation, with NYCFC reportedly showing interest in the attacker. However, current reports suggest that any potential deal involving the Major League Soccer club is considered dead in the water for the time being.

The player remains focused on his recovery in Italy after concluding a summer where he noted he had time to rest following what he called an unfortunate way to finish the international cycle. The 4-1 scoreline against Belgium marked a definitive end to a campaign where the USMNT struggled with consistency. Pulisic's impact was limited to 120 total minutes across the final stages of the competition. Medical evaluations conducted at Milanello confirmed that the bone bruise has healed sufficiently to allow for light ball work. The coaching staff is monitoring his progress daily to ensure no regression occurs before the Venezia match. Amorim’s tactical setup requires high-intensity pressing, a demand that Pulisic must meet before receiving a full medical clearance for 90 minutes of play. The club's physiotherapists have designed a specific load-management program to bridge the gap between individual rehabilitation and full-contact match scenarios. This cautious approach aims to prevent any recurrence of the ankle twisting issues mentioned by the player in July.