Carli Lloyd, a prominent figure in U.S. women's soccer, is maintaining her critical stance on U.S. Men's National Team star Christian Pulisic, asserting that she owes him no apology following the revelation of a bone bruise and microfracture in his leg sustained during the team's World Cup elimination.
Lloyd's comments, made on the social media platform X, addressed Pulisic's remarks about having "time to rest" after the United States' Round of 16 exit. Lloyd stated that her criticism was not personal but fact-based, pointing to Pulisic's decision to skip the Gold Cup the previous summer and multiple pre-World Cup friendlies to prepare for the tournament. "You rest when your playing career is over. Period," Lloyd remarked.
This is not the first time Lloyd has voiced criticism of Pulisic during the World Cup. Immediately following the U.S. team's 4-1 loss, Lloyd expressed disappointment on Fox Sports. "I think whether he wants to be the star of this team or not, we didn’t see enough from him in this particular game and really the whole World Cup. Little glimpses here and there," she said.
Pulisic was substituted in the 59th minute of the match against Belgium after sustaining an injury while attempting a shot. Subsequent reports confirmed a bone bruise and a microfracture in his tibia and fibula. This injury marked his second of the tournament, having also left the opening match against Paraguay with a calf issue that sidelined him for the subsequent game against Australia.
Throughout his career, Pulisic has spoken about the demanding nature of the soccer schedule, noting that "breaks" from club play often coincide with national team commitments. Lloyd's perspective, however, emphasizes prioritizing team participation and performance over extended rest periods, particularly when preparing for major international tournaments like the World Cup.