The 2025–26 season has officially arrived, and Christian Pulisic knew exactly what he had to do. In recent days, the USMNT superstar has been in the headlines — not necessarily for the wrong reasons, but not entirely for the right ones either. The 26-year-old found himself under an unflattering yet bold spotlight following the release of his documentary’s final episodes, drawing criticism from some fans and pundits alike. However, Pulisic knew precisely how to turn the tide in his favor.

The American skipper once again let his game do the talking to send a perfect response. Having reunited with his domestic teammates after a lengthy summer break to finally kick off with a fresh campaign, Christian Pulisic played a crucial role in helping AC Milan secure their first win in their inaugural game.

The Rossoneri hosted Italy’s second division side SSC Bari at San Siro for the first round of the Coppa Italia and managed to secure an easy 2-0 win over the Serie B side. While the opener from Rafael Leao helped the home side break the ice within 14 minutes, it took just three minutes after the commencement of the second half to see Pulisic add a second.

This domestic cup clash proved especially significant for AC Milan, as star veteran signing Luka Modrić also made his much-anticipated debut. However, re-appointed manager Massimiliano Allegri was absent from the dugout, serving a suspension. In his place, assistant coach Marco Landucci took charge, which also proved favorable.

Sadly, the unfortunate event saw Rafael Leao leave the pitch just four minutes after scoring the opener. The Portuguese winger was seen leaving in discomfort, making fans concerned. Even Landucci had no stern update on the talented striker, saying, “I can’t tell you that. He came off because of this discomfort. We didn’t want to take too many risks. Let’s see in the coming days what the medical tests say,” as per Milan Reports.

Max Allegri won’t like this update very much, considering the Rossoneri are beginning their Serie A season next week. Perhaps the more positive take would be Pulisic getting his name on the scoresheet, which, of course, holds more significance than one could think of!

Performing well is a necessity for Christian Pulisic!

The 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup is done and dusted for months, yet it has only seen the former Chelsea star still get dragged into the mud by some over deliberately choosing to skip playing this tournament, despite citing fatigue. This only saw the talented forward take a dig at the stage he got to talk at, unleashing his blunt attitude, making his naysayers more enraged.

For instance, taking a dig at former USMNT stars like Landon Donovan for always undermining the Golden Generation over not caring for the national team’s result, calling it the ‘most annoying thing’. Facing criticism for choosing to prioritize his own well-being just once, the talented winger found himself under constant scrutiny, with opinions flying in every direction — leaving Pulisic feeling disheartened.

“In my opinion, everyone just disrespected me in a lot of ways and completely forgot what I have done for this national team in 10 years. It sucks,” he said. And it wasn’t just Pulisic speaking out — his father, Mark, a former footballer, along with teammate Tim Weah, also took subtle digs at the naysayers.

The response among a few USMNT supporters and icons has not been very positive. While ardent fans turned their backs against their nation’s own Captain America, ex-players like Alexi Lalas also didn’t hold back, slamming the former Dortmund star for “whining about being criticized.” Simply put, the temperature is a bit high back in the States over how Pulisic has portrayed himself in the docuseries.

Thankfully, his goal in today’s game may soften many people’s stance — something he can build on to carry his momentum forward. Having recorded 17 goals and 12 assists in over 50 games for AC Milan last season, it’s only natural to expect this level of performance from him, at least to help ease his country’s critical viewpoint toward him.