Landon Donovan, a former icon of the United States men's national soccer team, has voiced disappointment with Christian Pulisic's performance in the recent World Cup, suggesting the star player has not met expectations in major matches. Pulisic's World Cup concluded early after an ankle injury forced him off the field during the Round of 16 loss to Belgium.
"In the end, he’s your best player, he’s your star player, and it just didn’t happen for him," Donovan said on his "Unfiltered Soccer" podcast. "I was waiting for a moment for him … and it just didn’t happen."
Donovan, speaking after the USMNT's 4-1 defeat, indicated that Pulisic's struggles in high-stakes games are part of a larger trend. "When the games are easy, and it’s a home qualifier, and it’s Jamaica, yes. But in the big moments and the big games, he just hasn’t — I’m not criticizing, I’m just saying it factually. He is who he is at this point."
Pulisic, who sat out last year's Gold Cup to prepare for the World Cup hosted in the United States, was hampered by injuries throughout the tournament. He recorded only one assist across four games. He initially suffered a calf injury during the team's opening match against Paraguay, missing a subsequent game. While he returned for the final group stage match and played in the knockout rounds, his participation was cut short against Belgium.
Donovan contrasted Pulisic's exit with his own experience, emphasizing a desire to remain on the field despite injury. "The reality is, he came out of a World Cup knockout game at home, with his leg still intact. Because you would have had to f–king drag me off the field," Donovan stated. "And I would have punched the doctor in the face and said, ‘You’re not taking me off the field. Put whatever you need to put in me, and I’m staying on the field.’"
Pulisic has faced criticism from various figures in the soccer community, including former U.S. Women's National Team players Carli Lloyd and Sydney Leroux. Following the loss to Belgium, Pulisic expressed his frustration but also noted the upcoming opportunity for rest and recovery for his ankle injury, stating, "Now I have time to rest. I feel it’ll be OK."