Christian Pulisic’s concerning goalless run continued on Sunday when the U.S. Men’s National Team star failed to find the back of the net yet again in a 0-0 draw with Juventus.
Facing off against USMNT teammate and Juventus cornerstone Weston McKennie, Pulisic’s goalless 2026 was extended to 16 Serie A games at the San Siro - or 18 games including his two international appearances in losses to Belgium and Portugal.
Pulisic’s drop off in productivity has been especially eye-catching and concerning from a USMNT perspective, given that prior to New Year's, he had found the back of the net on 10 occasions in 14 games. This was despite him having to miss five games due to injury.
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By comparison, last season, Pulisic was Milan’s top scorer, and the year prior, while not top, he finished the campaign in second behind France’s all-time leading goal scorer, Olivier Giroud.
The timing of Pulisic’s dry spell in front of goal couldn’t have come at a worse time from a USMNT perspective, with the U.S. set to co-host the FIFA World Cup this summer along with Mexico and Canada.
According to Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri, these past four months have been tough on the American, telling DAZN Italia after Sunday’s game, via beIN SPORTS, “Christian is a very sensitive man, and this drought is hitting him harder.
“He is also someone who struggles more with the physicality of duels and the lack of a centre-forward, but I must try to give a balance to this team, as we have an objective to achieve.
“I realize he is not entirely suited to this. I had asked him to play center-right tonight and [Rafael] Leão center-left, so we were without a center-forward. Rest assured, by the end of the season, Pulisic will have given his contribution.”
Currently third in Serie A, two points behind Napoli in second and three ahead of Juventus in third, Pulisic only has four games left to make “his contribution” to the cause as the Rossoneri seeks to solidify its return to the UEFA Champions League, after missing out on European soccer entirely this season.
Worryingly for Allegri, however, is that he’ll not only have to find a way to get more out of Pulisic and Co. in the coming games, but he’ll have to do so without former Ballon d’Or winner, Luka Modrić.
The veteran Croatian suffered a broken cheekbone in Sunday’s game, for which he has already undergone surgery, according to the club. “Surgery was necessary to treat a complex, multi-fragment fracture of the left zygomatic bone,” a statement explained.
“The operation, performed by Dr. Luca Autelitano's team in the presence of AC Milan doctors Stefano Mazzoni and Andrea Bulgheroni, was a complete success. The Club wishes Luka a speedy recovery ahead of the FIFA World Cup!”
Croatia boss Zlatko Dalić also released a statement on social media in the aftermath of their talisman’s injury, explaining, “I've been talking to Luka, and wished him a successful surgery and a quality and speedy recovery.
“I am convinced that he will do everything to be ready for the @FIFAWorldCup, and we'll provide full support. I am confident that the recovery will go according to plan and that Luka, as team captain, will lead us at another major competition this summer.”
In more positive news from a USMNT perspective, McKennie played the full 90 minutes on Sunday once again, maintaining his record of having started every game for the Old Lady for which he has been available for selection since Luciano Spalletti took charge in late October.