Christian Pulisic has long been the poster boy for American soccer, with his dazzling footwork and undeniable flair making him the crown jewel of the USMNT. From his breakthrough in the Bundesliga to taking on heavyweights such as Chelsea, Pulisic has been one for the fans. But amidst his professional highs, there has been that enormous shadow, injuries. The injury woes are not new to Pulisic; in a recent interview, a USMNT legend admitted this current worry, and let’s say it wasn’t all sparkles and rainbows. As much as one loves him, still a nagging fear is, can he stay injury-free long enough to realize his full potential?

Pulisic’s injury struggles have been well-documented over the years. From muscle strains to hamstring pulls, it feels like he’s been through it all. Just when you think he’s back in action, boom—another setback. His injury record is pretty tough to ignore, and it definitely raises the question: Can Pulisic avoid the same fate that’s plagued him for so long?

Pulisic’s Make-or-Break Moment: Can He Leave Injuries Behind?

Christian Pulisic has suffered numerous injuries throughout his career, impacting his consistency for club and country. The apparent major injuries consist of the muscle bundle tear he suffered in late 2019 while still at Borussia Dortmund and successive hamstring injuries during his time with Chelsea, including that suffered in the 2020 FA Cup Final. Barely after he officially transferred to AC Milan, he sustained a calf injury in December 2024 that ruled him out of some important matches. He is undoubtedly a talented player, but his fitness remains a major concern, hoping that 2025 will bring better health and stability in terms of it.

Alexi Lalas got real about his concerns for Pulisic in his podcast: “There was a time where I would be concerned about his injury, and maybe just with his history, I still should be concerned. But I just find myself not being as concerned as I have been in the past. And maybe that’s because I just feel like he has grown—literally grown—into his body and he is a little bit more durable. But now I start to think about it, and given his history, it does concern me.”

Here’s the million-dollar question: Can Pulisic shake off his injury demons for good? He’s still young, and with his skill set, the sky’s the limit. But given his history, we’re all holding our breath to see if he can stay on the pitch long enough to hit those high notes. God forbid we see another one of those chronic injury situations that has plagued him in the past, right?

Pulisic’s 2025: The Countdown to a Career-Defining Year

As fans continue to express concern over Christian Pulisic’s fitness, 2025 presents him with a golden opportunity to silence those doubts. Following his calf injury in December 2024, Pulisic is set to return to action for AC Milan in the Supercoppa Italiana semifinal on January 3 against Juventus. It has just begun for him. Milan will depend on Pulisic in the next few crucial months, as they will play important matches on the business end of Serie A action, plus the UEFA Champions League knockout stages beginning on February 18.

He is not just relied on by his club, as his leadership will also matter a lot for the USMNT in their pursuit of the title in 2025 in the Gold Cup and Nations League competitions. These tournaments will be a perfect setting to prove the craftiness of this player and his enormous potential as a country’s star player. With such experience and skills, he can elevate the national team’s performance, leading them into the major international destinations.

But, since the new year has begun, the hopes of US soccer fans are riding high. We really ought to be positive at the end of the day. However, let’s not go too far. Until Pulisic and co can stay healthily together for a while, we will remain cautiously optimistic, fingers crossed and hoping that their bodies will hold up for what could be a special year.