U.S. men’s national team standout Christian Pulisic commenced the new season impressively, scoring a remarkable goal as AC Milan triumphed over Bari in the Coppa Italia first round on Sunday. In the 48th minute, Pulisic received the ball just outside Bari’s penalty area and made a swift run into a more central position as he entered the box. He noticed Santiago Gimenez to his left, passing the ball to his teammate before receiving a return pass as he moved closer to the goal.
Pulisic, showcasing his skills, received the ball with his foot and spun in a seamless motion to strike it into the net with his right foot.
Watch the strike below:
CHRISTIAN PULISIC WITH THE TOUCH AND TURN FOR MILAN 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/jUri8CS7zr — CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) August 17, 2025
This marks a stellar start for Pulisic’s third season at Milan and his first under new manager Massimiliano Allegri, the fourth coach to oversee the team since his arrival ahead of the 2023-24 season. Pulisic has become a regular player in Milan’s preseason lineup, demonstrating his versatility as an attacker. Following the match, Pulisic boasts 33 goals in 101 appearances for the club. Furthermore, his performance last season was particularly vital for the team as they finished in an underwhelming eighth place.
Pulisic began the match on Sunday after nursing an ankle injury that sidelined him during their last preseason friendly against Chelsea, and he is now well-rested after choosing to skip the Concacaf Gold Cup to focus on the upcoming World Cup next summer in the U.S.
In response to critics regarding his decision to opt out of the Gold Cup, he stated:
“I had to make the best decision for myself and look out for myself,” in an episode of the “PULISIC” documentary currently available on Paramount+.
AC Milan is set to face Lecce in the next round of the Coppa Italia, scheduled for September 23-25, and will kick off their Serie A campaign against newly promoted Cremonese this Saturday.
