Christian Pulisic has never shied away from a challenge, and right now, the USMNT star is facing one of the toughest stretches of his career. In a rare and candid interview series—including a historic cover feature for Time magazine—Pulisic opens up about his Milan debut, the current slump, his turbulent time at Chelsea, and his mindset heading into the 2026 World Cup, which the U.S. will co-host with Canada and Mexico.

“I plan on scoring goals,” Pulisic says bluntly when asked how he intends to break out of his current dry spell. It’s a response that captures his no-nonsense approach—an attitude that friends and teammates sometimes say borders on being too serious. But for the 27-year-old, focus is everything.

Pulisic made an immediate splash when he joined AC Milan in 2018, scoring on his debut in a 2-0 victory over Bologna. “I didn’t do so much thinking,” he recalls. “I was just like, ‘You know what? I’m just gonna go play.’” That instinctive, pressure-free mindset helped him hit the ground running in Serie A.

Fast forward to 2026, and the goals have dried up—for both club and country. Pulisic has failed to find the net in any competition this year, a stark contrast to the early promise of his Milan career. When pressed on the slump, his response is characteristically direct: “Such bad questions. I’m not concerned about it, man.”

Reflecting on his time at Chelsea, where he became one of the first Americans to truly make a mark in Europe, Pulisic pushes back on the narrative that his stint there was a failure. “When people say that it wasn’t a successful time, it is interesting to me,” he says. “I feel like that’s how everyone’s career kind of goes.”

Whether it’s dealing with criticism, navigating a goal drought, or preparing for a home World Cup, Pulisic remains steadfast. His message is clear: the goals will come, and the focus won’t waver.