Christian Pulisic Blasted by Sydney Leroux for Not Playing Through Injury at World Cup

Christian Pulisic's early exit from the World Cup game against Belgium has drawn criticism from fans and analysts alike, with Sydney Leroux being the latest to speak out against the American star.

What happened?

The US Men's National Team had a disappointing result at the World Cup, with much of the heat falling on Christian Pulisic's shoulders. The 27-year-old suffered a bone bruise and microfracture to his tibia during the loss to Belgium, which led to his substitution in the 59th minute.

Sydney Leroux's criticism

Sydney Leroux, a member of the US Women's National Soccer Team, expressed her shock at Pulisic's decision to exit the game, saying that she would never say she needs to rest during the World Cup. Leroux shared her own experiences playing with injuries, including playing through a broken ankle for over a year and breaking her rib in half during a game.

*“I played through a broken ankle for over a year and I broke my rib in half and played the rest of the game. I had 2 babies and trained a couple weeks later. This is the biggest game of your life. Tape it up.”*

Leroux stood by her criticism even after learning of Pulisic's injury diagnosis, saying that she understands the severity of the injury but still believes that Pulisic should have played through the pain.

Context and reaction

Leroux's comments were made public prior to the official injury diagnosis, and she has since clarified that she understands the severity of the injury. However, she still believes that Pulisic should have prioritized playing in the World Cup over resting.

The criticism from Leroux is not the only one Pulisic has faced, with Carli Lloyd and Landon Donovan also expressing their disappointment with the American star's performance throughout the World Cup.

What's next?

The US Men's National Team will look to regroup and rebuild after their disappointing result at the World Cup. Christian Pulisic will likely face scrutiny and criticism in the coming weeks and months, but he will also have the opportunity to prove himself and lead the team to success in future tournaments.