Mauricio Pochettino’s Candid Remark Snubs Pulisic Amid Goal Drought

Christian Pulisic has now gone 15 games without a goal across all competitions.

Mauricio Pochettino did not include any Americans in the top 100 players globally. | Mark Leech/Offside/Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images

U.S. men’s national team striker Christian Pulisic suffered three separate blows on Tuesday night.

First, his squad got handily stomped by Portugal 2–0 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Second, the match extended Pulisic’s streak without a goal across all competitions to 15 games—and marked his eighth consecutive goal-less national team match, the longest drought of his U.S. career.

And third—to really kick the U.S.’s poster player while he’s down, USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino also admitted that he doesn’t believe Pulisic—or anybody on his squad—belongs in the top 100 of current players globally.

“We are USA,” Pochettino said after the game. “We are competing against Belgium, Portugal. I think for sure Belgium and Portugal have in the top 100 players, a few or some, players playing in that top 100. I think we don’t have. That is why it’s good to play against these types of teams.”

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Is Pulisic Losing Star Power?

Christian Pulisic got nothing going against Portugal. | Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

Pochettino likely meant no disrespect; however, his comment comes amid the critical questioning of Pulisic’s star power, just weeks away from 2026 World Cup kickoff.

The usual scoring machine has found the net 32 times across 83 appearances in a U.S. soccer jersey, earning him three U.S. Soccer’s Male Player of the Year awards (2017, 2019, 2021) and ranking him fifth overall for most goals in USMNT history.

Nevertheless, Pulisic hasn’t scored for the Stars and Stripes since his brace in a Concacaf Nations League win over Jamaica in late November 2024. The star’s last time hitting the net in any competition came last calendar year, with a goal for his club team, AC Milan, in Serie A on Dec. 28.

Further, Pochettino’s evaluation comes just months after Pulisic was alsosnubbed from The Guardian’s Top 100 male soccer players of 2025 list.

Pulisic’s desperation was front and center on Tuesday, eager to not only turn the tides of his recent misfortune, but also to recover the team’s spirits following an embarrassing 5–2 beatdown by Belgium over the weekend. The striker continually darted into Portugal’s final third, fed ball after ball from wingers Malik Tillman and Tim Weah; nevertheless, Pulisic couldn’t get a quality look, characterized more by frantic energy rather than poise. He managed three shots—two of which were blocked and another off target.

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What Do Pochettino, Pulisic Say About the Goal Drought?

Pochettino found some positives in the U.S.’s 2–0 loss to Portugal on Tuesday. | John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images

Pulisic insists he is chipping away at the ice.

“Physically, I feel really good and really sharp,” Pulisic told TNT directly after the game. “I have to help my team to get assists and score goals and create chances, and obviously when I don’t do that it’s frustrating. But I feel that I’m close.

“Of course it’s frustrating, but I’m just gonna stay positive,” Pulisic added in the postmatch press conference. “A lot of big things ahead, and I know when we get to the other side, things are gonna click.”

Pochettino echoed similar positivity postmatch. “I think [Pulisic] was very active and he did a good job. He was involved in [a lot] of actions. It was a shame he didn’t score with the opportunities he had, but it’s normal he was a little frustrated, but I think we were a little bit frustrated the whole game.”

Pulisic will have another opportunity when the U.S. returns to action at the end of May for two more friendlies against Senegal and Germany, the final tune-up ahead of World Cup play, which kicks off for the USMNT on June 12 against Paraguay in Group D.

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