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Christian Pulisic’s 18-game goalless streak for AC Milan is not good news for the United States men’s national team with the 2026 World Cup just weeks away. But FOX Sports soccer analyst Alexi Lalas found AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri’s comment about Pulisic’s sensitivity just as troubling.
“The last thing you want to be called by a coach is touchy,” Lalas said on the latest episode of his “State of the Union” podcast.
“Christian Pulisic as a soccer player has definitely developed and matured into what I think will ultimately be considered the best male American soccer player in history. But he hasn’t become the player that a lot of people envisioned. I also think that outside things can affect him and maybe he takes them personally and maybe he’s more emotional than you think.”
Allegri called Pulisic “very sensitive” after a recent match, adding that the American star is letting his scoring drought “affect him more.”
“He is a player who goes into tackles and fights more. He suffers more from this,” Allegri said. “I have to try to give the team balance by playing without a true center forward, he struggles more.”
Lalas went on to stress that Allegri’s comment was far from ideal for Pulisic.
“If this is just an acknowledgment of how he sees this player? That’s fine,” Lalas said. “But from a public perspective, that’s just not what you want to hear.”
Pulisic has been one of the USA’s star players over the years, and ranks fifth in all-time scoring for the USA with 32 goals in 82 games. In addition, Pulisic became the youngest American player to score 10 international goals in 2019.
However, Pulisic’s scoring problems have also existed in international play. He has not scored in his last seven games for the US men’s national team, and his last international goal came in a friendly against New Zealand in September 2024.
But Pulisic had a moment when he rose to the occasion in the last World Cup. Pulisic pushed the USA into the knockout round with his decisive goal against Iran in the 2022 tournament. Now, heading into a World Cup on America’s home turf, the pressure is on Pulisic to deliver again.
2026 FIFA World Cup: How to watch
The WC takes place from June 11-19. July 2026. Split across three countries, the tournament culminates with the final on July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches airs live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every game streaming live and on-demand in both the FOX One and FOX Sports apps. A record 40 games, more than a third of the tournament, are televised in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19).
