Pulisic Ends 266-Day Milan Drought with First-Time Strike vs Lecce

The heavy air in the San Siro locker room lifted as Christian Pulisic celebrated a goal that had eluded him for nearly nine months. After 266 days and 19 matches of silence, the American star finally pierced the net, breaking a drought that had tested his resolve and reputation. The breakthrough came against Lecce, a match that signaled a tangible shift in his trajectory.

Yet, as the club celebration subsided, a different timeline loomed over his international career. While the Rossoneri faithful exhaled, questions persisted about his last contribution to the United States national team. The gap between his club resurgence and his international impact remains a stark, unresolved narrative in his 2026 campaign.

First-Time Finish Breaks Club Silence

Just 14 minutes into Milan’s 3-0 victory over Lecce on September 20, Strahinja Pavlovic launched a long ball over the defensive line. Pulisic raced into the box, controlling the ball with precision before firing a first-time effort past Wladimiro Falcone. The goal was not just a tally; it was the 40th Serie A shot he had taken without finding the net, a statistic that underscored the frustration of the preceding months.

This performance marked his return to the starting lineup under manager Ruben Amorim, a role he had missed due to recurring injuries. His influence extended beyond the goal, as he continued to threaten the opposition throughout the match. Named Player of the Match, Pulisic acknowledged the difficulty of the period, telling DAZN, “It’s been a difficult 2026 for me and the team... I ran too much! I’m very tired.”

International Scoring Gap Persists

The last time Pulisic found the back of the net for the USMNT was May 31, 2026, in a 3-2 friendly victory over Senegal in Charlotte. That match, where he also registered an assist, had ended a previous international drought stretching back to November 2024. However, the momentum did not carry over into the 2026 World Cup, where he contributed one assist but failed to score before injury disrupted his campaign.

Since that Senegal match, the American has gone 114 days and five games without an international goal. He missed the Round of 16 meeting with Belgium due to the tournament injury and was subsequently omitted from the national team’s September camp. As reported by World Soccer Talk, this exclusion leaves a significant gap in his international record despite his recent club form.

Coaching Decision Remains Unexplained

Mauricio Pochettino offered no specific rationale for leaving Pulisic out of the recent squad selection. The USMNT coach stated that the 28 players chosen for the upcoming four games were selected based on various circumstances and represent the group the staff wants to work with. This ambiguity adds a layer of uncertainty to Pulisic’s immediate future, even as his club performance suggests a return to peak condition.