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Christian Pulisic doesn’t get the doubt from anyone.
In perhaps the most important World Cup in US soccer history, Pulisic ultimately made no impact.
Pulisic was injured in the U.S. men’s national team’s opener, causing him to miss his next game before playing limited minutes in the group stage final.
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USA’s Landon Donovan celebrates victory at the final whistle at the 2010 World Cup. (EMPICS Sport – PA Images via Getty Images)
But Pulisic, the face of American soccer, disappointed in both knockout games and left the round of 16 against Belgium with an ankle injury. After the loss, Pulisic said he can “rest”.
Landon Donovan saw both ups and downs during his World Cup career, and while he admitted that he “will[ed] to be careful” regarding his observation about Pulisic, the USMNT legend didn’t hold back much on the criticism he “deserves.”
“At the end of the day, he’s your best player, he’s your star player, and it just didn’t happen for him…” Donovan said on his “Unfiltered Football” podcast with former teammate Tim Howard. “It’s part of this role. It’s just disappointing, I was waiting for him for a moment… and it just didn’t happen.”
Christian Pulisic during the FIFA World Cup Group D match against Turkey at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
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“I’m starting to look back, Tim — it’s more than just a trend now. It is,” Donovan continued. “Like 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 doesn’t – I’m not criticizing, I’m just saying it factually. He is who he is at this point.”
Donovan wasn’t thrilled about Pulisic leaving the Belgium game either.
“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 pull me off the field,” Donovan said. “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’ll stay on the field’.”
Christian Pulisic walks off the field after the Round of 16 match against Belgium at Seattle Stadium on July 6, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)
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Howard was cryptic in his not-so-positive analysis of Pulisic, saying he’s a “good football player” but “other than that, you’d have to ask me very direct questions that I could give you very direct answers to.”
Pulisic has only one goal in eight World Cup matches in his career. In Monday’s loss, he lost possession 11 times in the first half.
