The discourse surrounding Christian Pulisic's role within the USMNT has recently intensified, with prominent figures like Landon Donovan and Alexi Lalas weighing in on the perceived tension and pressure surrounding the young star. This scrutiny comes on the heels of Pulisic's decision to opt out of the 2025 Gold Cup, citing fatigue, a move that has drawn criticism from some corners.
Donovan, while commentating on a Portugal's celebration in its win over Spain in the UEFA Nations League final, took an implied dig at Pulisic and other U.S. players for their decision to sit out the upcoming Concacaf Gold Cup. "This is what it means to represent your country," Donovan said as the broadcast showed Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal teammates celebrating the triumph. "This is what it means." These remarks ignited a debate about commitment and the responsibility of star players to participate in major tournaments.
Lalas has been particularly vocal, questioning Pulisic's dedication to the national team. He argues that Pulisic's absence from the Gold Cup places added pressure on him to perform at a higher level in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup. Lalas stated that Pulisic needs to embrace the challenge and perform at a higher level when he does rejoin the USMNT and also mentioned that Pulisic needs to "read the room" and "move heaven and earth to be there to try to set this right" in the most important moment before this World Cup helping this team."
The criticism from Donovan and Lalas isn't isolated. Clint Dempsey has also expressed reservations, questioning the competitiveness of players who choose to skip major tournaments. These comments from former USMNT stars highlight a generational divide in perspectives on national team duty.
Pulisic, for his part, has pushed back against the criticism, with those questioning his commitment being "way out of line." He claimed he offered to play in two pre-Gold Cup friendlies against Turkey and Switzerland, but the USMNT coaching staff declined.
Despite the external noise, Pulisic remains a key figure for both AC Milan and the USMNT. He is coming off a strong season with AC Milan, where he ended the 2024-25 campaign with 11 goals and nine assists in 33 regular season appearances. Across all competitions, he bagged 17 total goals while registering 10 assists, with the U.S. international setting a single-season scoring record at the club level. He has also achieved milestones with the national team, becoming the fastest USMNT player to reach 50 goal contributions. He was awarded Player of the Tournament for the 2022–23 competition and captained the U.S. in the 2–0 victory against Mexico in the final to secure his third Nations League trophy in a row.
The current "tension," as described by Donovan and Lalas, underscores the high expectations placed on Pulisic as a leader and star player for the USMNT. Whether he can successfully navigate this pressure and lead the team to success in future competitions remains to be seen.
