Christian Pulisic’s World Cup ended with injury, frustration and pointed criticism from two of the most important figures in American soccer history.
The AC Milan forward was substituted in the 59th minute as the United States lost 4-1 to Belgium in the last 16, bringing an abrupt end to a tournament that had carried enormous expectations on home soil.
Pulisic had arrived at the World Cup as the face of the USMNT, but injuries disrupted his campaign and limited his influence after a promising opening performance against Paraguay. His exit against Belgium, combined with his comments after the match, has now intensified the debate over his role and legacy with the national team.
According to the New York Post, Landon Donovan said Pulisic’s tournament was “disappointing” and argued that the United States’ biggest star had not delivered the defining moment many had expected.
Read also: “The cup is being given to Argentina”: Ziko erupts after Egypt heartbreak
Donovan delivers blunt verdict
Donovan, speaking on the Unfiltered Soccer podcast with Tim Howard, said he had waited for Pulisic to take control of a major World Cup match, but felt that moment never arrived.
“In the end, he’s your best player, he’s your star player, and it just didn’t happen for him,” Donovan said.
The former USMNT forward added that the criticism comes with the responsibility of being the team’s leading figure.
“I want to be careful because I’m sure people are piling on him, a lot of it he deserves, of course. That’s part and parcel with this role. It’s just disappointing, I was waiting for a moment for him … and it just didn’t happen.”
Read also: England's World Cup win over Mexico draws record-breaking audience
Donovan then went further, suggesting that Pulisic’s struggles in the biggest matches could no longer be dismissed as a short-term issue.
“I’m starting to look back, Tim, it’s more than just a trend now. It is. Like, when the games are easy, and it’s a home qualifier, and it’s Jamaica, yes. But in the big moments and the big games, he just hasn’t, I’m not criticizing, I’m just saying it factually. He is who he is at this point.”
Injury exit adds to the debate
Pulisic was forced off against Belgium after suffering an ankle injury, with the match already slipping away from the United States.
Donovan made clear that he would have fought to stay on the pitch in the same situation.
Read also: “A middle finger”: Mads Pedersen hits back with Tour stage win
“The reality is, he came out of a World Cup knockout game at home, with his leg still intact. Because you would have had to f-king drag me off the field,” Donovan said.
“And I would have punched the doctor in the face and said, ‘You’re not taking me off the field. Put whatever you need to put in me, and I’m staying on the field.’”
Pulisic later said the end to the tournament was frustrating, but added that he now had time to recover from the injury.
“It’s just frustrating to end like that, of course,” he said. “But now I have time to rest. I feel it’ll be OK.”
Read also: Bellingham reminds Rooney of Gerrard and Keane performances
Lloyd expected more from the star man
Carli Lloyd also criticised the American performance after the defeat to Belgium.
Described by People, Lloyd said the United States appeared hesitant and short of confidence from the start of the match, before singling out Pulisic as one of the players who needed to offer more.
“I gotta be honest, I was a bit disappointed with Christian Pulisic,” Lloyd said.
“I think whether he wants to be the star of this team or not, we didn’t see enough from him in this particular game and really the whole World Cup. Little glimpses here and there.”
Read also: The tournament is rigged: Egypt goes ballistic after Argentina defeat
Her comments reflected a broader sense of disappointment around a USMNT campaign that had promised far more. The United States had reached the knockout rounds on home soil, but the defeat to Belgium exposed the gap between ambition and execution.
Pulisic’s World Cup ends without a defining moment
According to The Guardian, Pulisic created chances and assisted in the opening win over Paraguay, but injuries and inconsistency prevented him from becoming the central figure many expected him to be.
He missed the second group match against Australia, returned later in the group stage, and was unable to decisively influence either knockout match.
At 27, Pulisic remains one of the most important players in the USMNT setup. But this World Cup was meant to be the tournament in which he defined his place in American soccer history.
Instead, it ended with an injury, a heavy defeat and two national-team legends asking whether he had done enough when the spotlight was at its brightest.
