A cloud of concern descended upon the USMNT and AC Milan fans earlier this month when Christian Pulisic limped off the pitch during a friendly against Australia. The subsequent diagnosis, confirmed by his club, was a low-grade tear in his right hamstring, an injury that brought a sudden halt to what had been a stellar start to the season for the American star.

In a recent update, Pulisic sought to reassure his supporters, taking to social media to state, “It’s been a tough couple weeks. But recovery is going great and I’m hungry to get back out there.” This positive outlook is crucial for a player whose momentum was brutally interrupted, as he had already racked up six goals and two assists in just eight Serie A appearances for Milan, a form that had even earned him the league’s Player of the Month honor for September.

While the immediate narrative has rightly focused on Christian Pulisic’s recovery and the disappointment of his temporary absence, a larger and more celebratory story about his growth in Italy is being told by some of the country’s most respected soccer voices. The conversation around his injury has been powerfully overshadowed by high praise from Italian soccer legend Alessandro Del Piero.

As reported by @usmntonly on X, the former Juventus and Italy icon recently offered a glowing assessment of Pulisic’s impact and development, articulating a sentiment that resonates throughout Serie A, stating, “His role at Milan is very clear, and he keeps improving with time month after month, year after year. Right now, he’s clearly Milan’s most dangerous player. Not just as a striker, scoring goals or getting assists, or creator, but also as a midfielder who links the play between midfield and attack. He’s been performing at an outstanding level for quite some time. … He’s reaching this World Cup at the perfect age with some experience on his shoulders.”

This perspective shifts the focus from a short-term setback to a long-term ascent, highlighting how the American has successfully reinvented himself as a complete and indispensable attacking force in one of the world’s most tactically rigorous leagues. The description of Pulisic as the team’s clear danger man, effective across multiple roles from striker to creative linker, underscores a versatility and footballing intelligence that perhaps went underappreciated during his previous chapters in England and Germany.

This esteemed perspective suggests that Pulisic is not merely a talented player on a hot streak but a maturing talent who has found a perfect home in Milan, with his best years still ahead of him. The injury is a temporary pause, but the overwhelming story—amplified by a legendary voice—is one of a player reaching his peak, perfectly poised for both Milan’s title ambitions and a home World Cup in 2026. However, the star player’s injury caused a lot of chaos among the Rossoneri fan base.

Christian Pulisic’s condition caused literal chaos

So, it looks like Christian Pulisic’s got a bit of a low-grade injury to his right hamstring, and it’s definitely not being brushed off. Multiple Italian media outlets have reported that the club was pretty “furious” and believed Pulisic was put in a situation that was just too risky.

The winger was dealing with a bit of an ankle problem before the international break and had a pretty limited role in the last friendly match against Ecuador. Milan’s management thought it was wise to be cautious, and they considered the choice to start him against Australia just a few days later to be “reckless.”

USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino mentioned the tough conditions, saying, “I think it’s a thing that is a massive risk. I don’t want to say that Christian or if it’s something because, but I think it was really tough for the player. We know to prepare the game and then to play. We got really sad about this [Pulisic] situation because I think it is difficult.” We’ll just have to wait and see how the soccer star bounces back and if he can keep up the same level of play he had before the injury.