Christian Pulisic Says USMNT Alums 'Out of Line' for Criticizing Commitment to Team

United States men's national team star Christian Pulisic addressed his decision to sit out the 2025 Gold Cup.

Pulisic said on CBS Sports' Call It What You Want he was willing to suit up for the USMNT's two friendlies ahead of the tournament but that coach Mauricio Pochettino wanted to utilize the same squad across both the friendlies and Gold Cup.

The AC Milan attacker added he "had to make the best decision for myself" in terms of wanting to take a break this summer on the heels of the 2024-25 season:

Pulisic also responded to the critics, some of whom are former national team stars, who said he needs to show a stronger commitment to the USMNT. He believes that argument is "way out of line":

Without mentioning any current players specifically, USMNT legend Landon Donovan made some pointed remarks on the Fox broadcast of Portugal's UEFA Nations League win over Spain.

Amid Portgual's celebrations, Donovan said that "this is what it means to represent your country" (via ESPN.com). He highlighted Cristiano Ronaldo, who continues suiting up for the national team at 40, to emphasize his point.

"He's played a long-ass season. He's tired. He's out there grinding," Donovan said. "Hurt himself in the process, and I can't help but think about some of our guys on vacation, not wanting to play in the Gold Cup. It's pissing me off."

Clint Dempsey made a similar case when he said he "always wanted to play" in international tournaments for the U.S.

There's no question international soccer can be a grind that leaves players with little to no offseason.

Pulisic's last match for AC Milan was on May 24. The first of the USMNT's two friendlies was June 7, and the United States kicks off the Gold Cup on Sunday against Trinidad and Tobago.

It can be a lot mentally and physically. Donovan famously took an extended break from the national team to allow himself to recharge.

However, the 2-1 loss to Türkiye and particularly the 4-0 defeat to Switzerland raises a lot of worries about the USMNT with the 2026 World Cup only a year out.

While Pochettino will have a better team at his disposal next summer, continuity can go a long way.

Building chemistry is hard enough under the best of circumstances because there aren't a lot of dates on the international calendar. For the United States, the process is more difficult because the Gold Cup squad will inevitably turn over significantly between the end of that tournament and the World Cup.

Pulisic's position is understandable, but there's a clear cost when he and other USMNT stalwarts opt against playing with the national team.