1 of 5 | Forward Christian Pulisic reacts after missing a shot during a United States Men’s National Team loss to Portugal on Tuesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Photo by Mike Zarrilli/UPI | License Photo
U.S. striker Christian Pulisic extended his goal slump to 20 combined games for club and country during a shutout loss to Portugal in Atlanta.
Pulisic, the active leader in career goals for the United States Men’s National Team, recorded three shot attempts in the 2-0 friendly setback Tuesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Portugal won with without stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Bernardo Silva. More than 72,000 fans attended the match.
“Obviously we are disappointed with the results,” Pulisic said on the TNT broadcast. “But, to be honest, I’m taking a lot of positives from it. I think we are a lot closer than it may seem. … I still feel positive and I have belief in this team.”
Pulisic’s last goal for the Americans was in November 2024, a streak that he pushed to eight consecutive games through Tuesday’s loss. He also failed to score over his last 12 appearances for Italian Serie A club AC Milan.
“Physically I feel really good, feel really sharp, and I’m doing a lot of good things,” Pulisic said. “I have to help my team to create assists and score goals and create chances.
“Obviously, when I don’t do that it’s frustrating, but I feel like I’m close and I feel good things are coming.”
The Americans outshot Portugal 12-11, but placed just three attempts on target, compared to their foes’ five. Portugal held a 61.6% to 38.4% edge in time of possession.
Francisco Trincao opened the scoring in the 37th minute, and fellow winger Joao Felix beat American goalie Matthew Freese in the 59th minute. Center midfielder Bruno Fernandes assisted in both goals.
Pulisic, who received a yellow card in first-half stoppage time, did not play in the second half.
“Yes, he feels frustrated, but that is what we want, what we expect,” American coach Mauricio Pochettino told reporters. “He was fighting. He was committing in the phases that we demand more and then with the ball, he’s going to score because he has quality.
“I am sure that he’s going to come back to his club and the moment that he scores, he is going to score again.”
The Americans, who lost 5-2 to Belgium on Saturday, will take on Senegal in another friendly at 3:30 p.m. EDT Sunday in Charlotte, N.C. They will meet Germany in their final friendly before the 2026 World Cup on June 6 in Chicago.
The U.S. men will start World Cup play with a Group D matchup with Paraguay on June 12 in Inglewood, Calif. Pochettino will announce the World Cup roster May 26.
AC Milan (18-3-9) will take on Napoli (19-6-5) in a Serie A match Monday in Naples. The Red and Blacks sit in second place in the Serie A standings, six points behind first-place Inter Milan (22-5-3). Napoli is just one point shy of AC Milan and seven behind Inter.
