Sources: Pulisic has microfracture, bone bruise
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- Pulisic was diagnosed with a microfracture and bone bruise of the tibia/fibula in his right leg, per a U.S. Soccer statement Thursday confirming the injury occurred during the 4-1 round-of-16 defeat to Belgium.
- The injury happened seven minutes into the second half when Pulisic attempted a shot and struck Youri Tielemans' leg; he tried to continue before being replaced by Sebastian Berhalter in the 59th minute.
- Pulisic also battled a calf injury first sustained in training two days before the Paraguay opener, aggravated in that match and forcing him to sit out the Australia game before returning against Türkiye and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
- A source told ESPN Pulisic is expected to miss four to six weeks, targeting a return to AC Milan training at some point in August.
- Pulisic's comeback will come under incoming AC Milan manager Ruben Amorim, with Milan's Serie A season opening Aug. 23 against Torino.
- After the Belgium match, Pulisic told reporters: "I just totally twisted my ankle and my knee in one play. I mean, whatever. I have time to rest. It's just an unfortunate way to finish."
Why it matters: Pulisic will miss four to six weeks, meaning AC Milan's new manager Ruben Amorim inherits a frontline missing its marquee summer signing through preseason and possibly the Aug. 23 opener against Torino. For the U.S., the injury compounds a tournament in which their best attacker was already compromised by a lingering calf issue.
