Christian Pulisic sat out AC Milan's 3-2 defeat to Atalanta on Sunday due to a glute injury, dealing another blow to the Rossoneri's fading Champions League qualification hopes. The USMNT winger's absence was described as precautionary, though no return date has been confirmed. With only two league matches remaining, Milan cannot afford further setbacks in their battle to secure fourth place and automatic qualification for European football's premier competition.
The loss leaves Milan in a precarious position. They sit fourth on 67 points, level with Roma but clinging to the final Champions League spot on head-to-head advantage. Como lurk just two points back, meaning the margin for error has virtually disappeared. Pulisic's availability for the final stretch is now critical, as his presence could prove decisive in a tight relegation-style scrap for a top-four finish.
Pulisic's Underwhelming Serie A Campaign
The American international has endured a frustrating season by his own standards. Pulisic has managed eight goals and three assists across 18 league appearances, with just eight starts—a stark decline from previous campaigns. Last season he started 29 matches in Serie A; in 2023-24 he started 32. Ten of his 18 appearances this term have come from the bench, highlighting both his reduced role and struggles with consistency.
His difficulties stem partly from recurring muscular injuries that have plagued him since late 2025. While ESPN's medical assessment suggests the current glute issue is not severe, Pulisic's injury history raises questions about his durability. A player who started nearly 30 games in each of the previous two seasons now faces a campaign where he may fall short of half that total.
World Cup Prospects Remain on Track
The timing of the injury does little to help Milan's immediate needs, but it should not derail Pulisic's World Cup ambitions. USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino is expected to name his 26-man squad in a formal announcement in New York, with Pulisic widely regarded as a lock for selection. The injury is unlikely to impact his availability for international duty, provided recovery progresses without complication.
The United States faces Senegal in Charlotte on May 31 and Germany in Chicago on June 6 as final preparation matches before their opening World Cup fixture against Paraguay on June 12. Pulisic's involvement in those fixtures will depend on his rehabilitation timeline and Milan's final two Serie A matches.
