The United States men's national soccer team found themselves in a "win or go home" situation during their third and final Group B match for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. And to no surprise, it was team leader Christian Pulisic who scored the decisive goal in USA's 1-0 win over I ran, a win that punched their tickets to the knockout stage.
Unfortunately, Pulisic's goal came at a cost as he collided with Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand with a potentially significant injury.
Christian Pulisic Injury Update
Below is a video of Pulisic's decisive goal and injury.
With a collision that reminds Americans only of football, Pulisic was clearly shaken up by the incident. He spent several moments on the ground trying to collect himself before getting treatment from the medical staff as play resumed. Pulisic ended up playing (clearly in pain) for the final few minutes of the first half but was subbed at halftime.
Following the contest, team USA called the injury an abdominal issue and he was sent to the hospital. Team USA officials were adamant this hospital visit was simply for medical scans as opposed to an official hospitalization.
Christian Pulisic Hospital Photo
Pulisic was upfront about the situation on his personal social media, sharing a photo of himself undergoing tests and revealing his trip to the hospital.
Clearly excited for USA's vict ory, Pulisic wrote "So ******* proud of my guys I'll be ready for Saturday don't worry." The US men's national team (USMNT) followed up with their own update on social media, revealing Pulisic had officially suffered a pelvic contusion.
What is a Pelvic Contusion?
The injury diagnosis leaves USA soccer fans wondering what exactly a pelvic contusion is. In other words, it's simply a bruise to the pelvic region of the body. According to Becker's Hopsital Review, pelvic contusions "are usually caused by notable trauma. While recovery from pelvic injuries can be complicated, most contusions heal pretty quickly with proper care."
There's no specific timeline for recovery from a pelvic contusion, as it relies on the severity of the injury and pain tolerance of the athlete involved. The fact that Pulisic was able to finish the first half, despite his obvious pain, is a good sign for his diagnosis entering the knockout stage.
As Becker's Hospital Review indicated above, most contusions "can heal pretty quickly" as long as receiving proper care.
Will Christian Pulisic Play in the Next Round?
Team USA officially listed Pulisic as "day-to-day" on their injury report and while no final word has been issued, the expectation is for Pulisic to play on Saturday. Saturday marks the start of the knockout round for team USA and they take on the Netherlands in a win-or-go-home Round of 16 match.
These two sides have never met in the FIFA World Cup. USA and Netherlands have played five international friendlies against each other, the first of which occurred in 1998. Netherlands is 4-0-1 (W-D-L) versus the United States.
While Pulisic is likely to suit up on Saturday, USMNT fans should pay close attention to his movements and pain levels. There's a possibility he faces a setback or is in too much pain to play the full 90 minutes.
For now, USA enters this Round of 16 clash as +196 underdogs, according to World Cup odds on FanDuel Sportsbook. The USMNT also owns +9000 odds to take home the World Cup title.