In the Rossoneri jersey, Christian is experiencing—in his own words—the best moment of his career; he’s thinking about renewing his contract and is a fan favorite. In the U.S., however, he’s faced criticism—even from well-known figures like Lalas—for “deserting” the national team during recent call-ups. But coach Pochettino can’t do without him

We haven’t quite reached the level of the biblical saying “nemo propheta in patria”—no one is a prophet in their own land—but one thing is certain: Christian Pulisic’s two soccer worlds are no longer aligning. At least, not as they did in the past, not as they theoretically should be. Because while on one hand there’s the Milan universe, where Christian is—alongside Modric and Rabiot—an absolute idol of the fans and a pillar of the team, on the other hand there’s the Stars and Stripes galaxy, where the nickname “Captain America” is starting—and not just recently, actually—to cause some discontent. Things are creaking a bit. His approval rating is on the decline, partly due to a few absences from national team call-ups that didn’t sit well with the American public, who are currently buzzing with excitement over the upcoming World Cup on home soil.

In this latest round of international matches, Pulisic made a clear choice. He chose Milan. And he did so essentially because this break leads up to the derby and because, after the October break, he had returned from the U.S. with a hamstring injury—a situation handled by the U.S. staff in a way that was considered rather questionable at Milanello and beyond. This incident had led head coach Pochettino to defend his own decisions and those of the medical staff (“He played against Australia because he felt fine and because all our doctors’ assessments were correct. And the player agreed with us. Milan has no reason to complain”). His exclusion from the roster for the two recent friendlies in the U.S. has obviously pleased Rossoneri fans because, ahead of the derby, the Diavolo needs to get its star striker back. Christian, despite the layoff, remains the Rossoneri’s leading scorer in the league (4) and for the season (6, plus 2 assists). The striker who defies categorization, the player capable of shifting the balance of the offense. He’s clearly at home in the Rossoneri, so much so that he stated in recent days that he’s “experiencing the best moment of my soccer career.” His partnership with Milan is destined to continue: in fact, talks will soon resume to extend his contract from 2027 to 2030.

digs—  A happy partnership with the Rossoneri. But what about in the U.S.? Basically, there isn’t a single fan in the U.S. who would truly criticize Pulisic, but there’s no doubt that in recent times, criticism has been directed at the player who, by the end of his career, will surely be crowned the greatest American player of all time. Prominent figures in U.S. soccer, such as Landon Donovan and Alexi Lalas, have not held back on taking jabs at the Milan forward, which inevitably ended up influencing a portion of public opinion, especially the most vocal segment on social media. This past summer, Donovan did not forgive Pulisic for refusing to participate in the Gold Cup, using harsh words that drew a sharp rebuke from Mark Pulisic, Christian’s father, who called the former U.S. national team captain a hypocrite. Alexi Lalas, now a leading commentator on U.S. soccer, was displeased with Pulisic’s omission from the November roster, going so far as to question his leadership. “I don’t think Christian is the captain this team needs, but the problem is that there are no alternatives,” the former Padova defender said on the State of The Union podcast. “ “Your captain doesn’t necessarily have to be the best player on the team.”
Discontent—  With the World Cup on home soil approaching, Pulisic is paying the price for the ups and downs of a team that still seems to be a work in progress. His absence from the Gold Cup, his return to Italy before the match against longtime rivals Mexico a year ago, and his omission from the November call-up—which was, incidentally, “snubbed” by several other veterans—have amplified a sense of discontent that, however, appears to be temporary. The paradox lies precisely in the fact that what was by far the national team’s best performance of the Pochettino era came without Captain America. The 5-1 victory on Tuesday night, in which a squad packed with reserves swept aside Uruguay, represents not only a good starting point ahead of the World Cup but also a confidence boost for a team that certainly hasn’t thrilled its fans in recent months. One thing, however, is certain, and Pochettino never fails to emphasize it: the U.S. national team simply cannot do without the talent of the Milan player.