Christian Pulisic suffered a fractured tibia and fibula in his right leg during the United States' 4-1 World Cup exit to Belgium. The forward sustained the injury in the second half while attempting a shot, leading to his substitution in the 59th minute. The diagnosis, confirmed by US Soccer, means Pulisic will be sidelined for several weeks.

The US team faced heavy criticism following their heaviest World Cup defeat in 36 years. Pulisic's early withdrawal drew particular scrutiny from former US internationals. Carli Lloyd questioned his commitment based on his performance and previous decision to skip the Gold Cup, while Landon Donovan expressed a desire for players to play through injuries.

AC Milan, Pulisic's club, begins its Serie A season on August 23 against Torino. The timing of his recovery will impact his availability for his club's early matches. While not a long-term injury, the fracture ends his World Cup campaign and raises questions about the team's reliance on their star player.