Carli Lloyd Unmoved by Pulisic Injury Diagnosis as World Cup Fallout Continues

As the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) shifts focus following their elimination from the 2026 World Cup, a debate regarding workload and performance has intensified between a star player and a prominent broadcaster. Former USWNT champion Carli Lloyd has maintained her stance on criticism directed at Christian Pulisic, even after it was revealed the AC Milan winger was playing through a significant leg injury.

Reports surfaced on Thursday indicating that Pulisic sustained a bone bruise and microfracture in his right leg during the team’s 4-1 Round of 16 defeat to Belgium. The injury is expected to sideline him for several weeks, though his club career in Italy’s Serie A is slated to resume in late August. Despite the medical disclosure, Lloyd, who served as an analyst during the tournament, has declined to walk back her comments regarding his impact on the tournament.

The disagreement stems from differing philosophies on player availability. Lloyd had previously questioned Pulisic’s influence during critical matches and emphasized on social media that players should only rest after their careers conclude. Following the news of the microfracture, Lloyd clarified that her critique was rooted in Pulisic’s decision to skip the CONCACAF Gold Cup last summer to prioritize fitness for the World Cup—a strategy she argued resulted in him missing significant time overall.

Lloyd delivered her commentary while working as an analyst for Fox Corporation. The media company, which holds the Class A stock ticker FOXA, is currently trading at $53.74, representing a slight increase of 0.83% from the previous close. With a market capitalization exceeding $23.4 billion, Fox remains a dominant force in the Communication Services sector, largely driven by its Cable Network Programming segment that produces and licenses high-profile sports content.

What to watch

• Pulisic’s recovery timeline ahead of the AC Milan Serie A opener on Aug. 23.
• Future programming decisions by Fox regarding soccer analysis following the World Cup.

Source: original release