Christian Pulisic has emerged as one of the undisputed stars of AC Milan’s season, establishing himself as a technical and silent leader in Paulo Fonseca’s squad. With 8 goals and 6 assists in 20 appearances this season, it’s clear that the team loses a significant edge without him. His recent calf injury, which could sideline him for up to a month, deprives Milan of a crucial player in their offensive strategy.
Pulisic’s performances in Serie A have increased his popularity in the United States, leading to a documentary by CBS Sports and Paramount+ that will be released this week. The content features contributions from people close to him, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Olivier Giroud, and Jurgen Klopp, following his journey towards the 2026 World Cup.
In the documentary, Pulisic addresses the prejudices he believes still exist in Europe about American players: “It’s something I’ve seen with my own eyes and it makes me angry. I think the situation has improved now, partly thanks to me, so that people can say: ‘This guy is American and he’s doing it at the highest level, so we have to respect these guys’. Look at how many Americans have come to Europe in the last five or ten years. We have players in the Champions League and in some of the most important leagues in the world. Proving them wrong isn’t our biggest motivation, but it’s there.”
Regarding whether this is his best career season, the Milan player replied: “In every area, I’m improving a bit, whether it’s finishing, crossing, defending, growing tactically and understanding the game better. I feel like I’m improving and becoming much stronger mentally, knowing that when the toughest moments hit, I’m able to not let them affect me so much, making the moments of less confidence a bit shorter. So it’s just about consistency and taking care of yourself.”
Pulisic also addressed the controversy surrounding his goal celebration mimicking Donald Trump’s dance moves: “Honestly, I don’t feel any different now than when I did it. For me, it was a viral dance trend, something I’ve done multiple times in my career. It wasn’t a statement in any way. Anyone who sees anything else in it simply shouldn’t because there’s nothing else to it. Given the political climate, especially in the United States, maybe not. I’ll be honest, I hadn’t even thought about it before. But now that I think about it, it doesn’t surprise me so much given the way people react to things.”
Looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Pulisic expressed his ambitions: “One of my biggest goals is to inspire the next generation of soccer players and my country, and to get people excited. I think about this moment when the World Cup is coming to the United States and our sport is at its peak, it seemed like the right time. I’d like to be able to say I had a small or big part in bringing soccer in America to a completely different level and, hopefully, bringing us to a point where we’re one of the most respected countries in the world.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, now a senior advisor for Milan’s ownership, offered his perspective on Pulisic: “The only negative aspect is that he’s a bit quiet. He’s known for being Captain America, but he doesn’t like being Captain America. Maybe he doesn’t see himself as a superhero. He’s playing with a low profile and with his feet on the ground. But you are Captain America, I don’t give a f*** what you say, you are. If this puts more pressure on you, I don’t care. It’s his fault: if you weren’t so good, we wouldn’t ask you for anything.”
