Christian Pulisic has said he “wanted to deliver so much more” after the United States’ World Cup campaign ended in disappointment with a 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the round of 16.
The USMNT’s exit on Monday brought a frustrating tournament to a close for Pulisic, who struggled to influence the knockout match before being withdrawn in the 59th minute with a lower-body injury. The 27-year-old lost possession 16 times, did not register a shot and failed to create a chance as Belgium comfortably moved on.
Pulisic’s post-match comments drew criticism from fans and pundits, prompting the forward to address the disappointment in a message shared on social media Wednesday. He thanked supporters for backing the team throughout the tournament and acknowledged that the final performance fell short of expectations.
“Tough to find the words,” he wrote on Instagram. “I want to start by saying thank you to everyone who believed. The support carried us all the way through.
“It simply wasn’t good enough from us in the end and I wanted to deliver so much more. I still feel blessed to be a part of this team.
“The memories this summer will last a lifetime. It’s just the start for us and for this sport in America.”
Pulisic’s tournament was disrupted from the start. He was forced off during the United States’ group-stage opener against Paraguay because of a calf injury, then missed the following match against Australia. He returned as a late substitute against Turkiye, but never appeared fully able to build rhythm or deliver the level of impact expected from one of the team’s most important players.
By the end of the tournament, Pulisic had recorded one assist and no goals, a return that added to the frustration around the USMNT’s early knockout-stage exit.
Former USWNT star Carli Lloyd said on FOX’s postgame coverage that she had expected more from the team’s leading figures.
“You wanted some of those big-time players to step up in big moment.
“I gotta be honest, I I was a bit disappointed with Christian Pulisic. I think, whether he wants to be the star of this team or not, we didn’t see enough from him in this particular game, and really the whole World Cup. Little glimpses here and there.”
Former USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard also said the scrutiny on Pulisic comes with his status as the face of the national team.
“To whom much is given, much is required,” Howard said. “He is the face of this team. He is undoubtedly its best player. And when that happens, you will receive all of the money and all of the acclaim and you’ll receive all the blame. That’s how it works.
“I hope for his sake he isn’t on social media for the foreseeable future. He deserves a rest. He can go on holiday and yeah, there’s a dark side. There’s a dark side to fame and celebrity.”