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Christian Pulisic is not getting the benefit of the doubt from anyone.
In perhaps the most important World Cup in the history of soccer in the United States, Pulisic ultimately did not make an impact.
Pulisic got hurt in the U.S. Men’s National Team’s opener, causing him to miss its next game before playing limited minutes in the group stage finale.
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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 U.S. Soccer, disappointed in both knockout-stage games and left the Round of 16 match against Belgium after an ankle injury. After the loss, Pulisic said he can “rest.”
Landon Donovan saw both the highs and lows during his World Cup career, and while he admitted he “want[ed] to be careful” regarding his observation about Pulisic, the USMNT legend did not hold back much about the criticism he “deserves.”
“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 with former teammate Tim Howard. “That’s part and parcel with this role. It’s just disappointing, I was waiting for a moment for him… 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 hasn’t — I’m not criticizing, I’m just saying it factually. He is who he is at this point.”
Donovan also was not thrilled that Pulisic left the Belgium game.
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“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—ing drag 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’m staying on the field.’”
Christian Pulisic walks off the pitch 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 Pulisic analysis, saying he is a “nice footballer,” but “outside of that, you’d have to ask me very direct questions to which I could give you very direct answers.”
Pulisic has just one goal in eight career World Cup games. In Monday’s loss, he lost possession 11 times in the first half.
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