Austin, Texas - Christian Pulisic stirred conversation during the summer by opting out of the Concacaf Gold Cup, the concluding competitive matches for the national team before co-hosting the significant FIFA World Cup next June and July.

After two demanding seasons in Italy with AC Milan, Pulisic communicated to U.S. men’s team coach Mauricio Pochettino that he needed a break to be at peak performance when the important event rolled around in 2026.

Christian Pulisic during practice Christian Pulisic participated in training with the USMNT this September. (Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images)

Pochettino disapproved of this choice, as did many fans. However, five months later, it’s hard to argue against Pulisic’s decision, especially after an American lineup, missing him, fell to historic adversary Mexico in the Gold Cup final.

Pulisic joined U.S. Men’s National Team camp on Monday, preparing for a friendly against Ecuador, showcasing exceptional form, arguably the best of his career. The recently 27-year-old not only tops the scoring chart for Milan but leads Italy’s Serie A as well, earning him the Player of the Month accolade.

When asked if his stellar season start was due to the rest, Pulisic clarified his efforts:

“I worked really hard this summer. It’s not like I just took a break.”

Despite sharing summer relaxation images on social media, including attending the Stanley Cup finals in Florida, Pulisic committed to rigorous gym workouts to ensure he was ready for the season.

“I wanted to make sure that my body was in the perfect spot coming into the season. I aimed to start really strong.”

He indeed started strong, even after missing a penalty in a draw against Juventus featuring U.S. teammate Weston McKennie. Pulisic scored four goals in Milan’s initial six matches, achieving an impressive strike rate of a goal every 81 minutes and is just one assist shy of league leaders.

“It’s just been consistency and the work I put in, and it’s good to see it come to fruition.”

Though he hasn’t scored for the national team in four appearances this year, Pulisic assisted Folarin Balogun’s goal in last month’s 2-0 victory over Japan. He looks forward to adding to his 32 international goals in upcoming matches against Ecuador and Australia.

Having McKennie available is expected to boost the team’s spirit, as Pochettino had previously excluded the veteran midfielder.

“Weston brings a smile to the team. He energizes us with his spirit and personality, making him a great asset to have.”

Pulisic insisted he hasn’t yet tapped into his full potential this season:

“It’s just the start of the season. I have so much more that I want to accomplish.”