Christian Pulisic’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup arguably couldn’t be going much worse, with the U.S. Men’s National Team’s talisman goalless both domestically and internationally this calendar year.
Having started the season strong under Massimiliano Allegri in what is his second stint with AC Milan, Pulisic scored 10 goals through December, leading the way in the category for the Rossoneri for a second straight season.
However, whether it be down to fitness, injuries, or simply a lack of form, Pulisic has not found the back of the net since December 28, while also struggling to consistently play a full 90 minutes.
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Now with kick off at a home World Cup under a month away, USMNT joint-record goalscorer Landon Donovan has admitted that if he were Pulisic, he’d be concerned.
“I’ve been through long stretches in my career where it just won’t go in. And there have been many games, I watch a lot of his games where in the right spot, makes the right play, the right moment, and then he just can’t hit the goal for some reason, or the goalie makes an amazing save,” he said on First Things First.
“What needs to happen, guys, is between now and June 12th, we need to find some way, and I don’t know what the hell it is, but for the ball to hit him somehow and go in the net one time. And I promise you if it goes in one time, it’ll be done.”
Donovan went on to recall when he found himself in a similar situation with the USMNT back in 2003, when they faced Cuba at Gillette Stadium in the quarter-final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. With just one goal in his previous six internationals, Donovan explained, “Brian McBride, my former teammate, was in on, we were on a two-on-zero on the goalie.
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“And he could have scored no problem. And he rolled it across to me, and I had a two-yard tap-in. And I ended up scoring four goals in the game. So when one hits the net, it will be totally fine. But we need that to happen before June 12th. We do.”
Thankfully, Pulisic still has one more game with Milan before their season comes to an end. Allegri’s third-placed side is set to take on Cagliari on Sunday in a game which could decide whether or not they will play UEFA Champions League soccer next season, with Roma tied on points and both Como and Juventus just two points behind them.
After this, Pulisic’s attention will turn to the USMNT, with whom he’ll have two more opportunities to finally end his goal drought when they host Senegal on May 31 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, after which they’ll take on four-time World Cup winners Germany on June 6 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois.
Their World Cup campaign will then kick off on June 12 against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, North Carolina.
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