GdS: A Pulisic never seen before – how a ‘new’ role helped him become even more decisive

Just when it seems that he cannot get any more important to AC Milan, Christian Pulisic has found another gear.

La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) writes this morning that we’ve never seen Pulisic this strong. He has always been a superhero – Captain America by nickname – but never before in his career had he scored a goal every 64 minutes, leading his team to first place in the league.

If Milan are top, arm in arm with Napoli, there’s a lot of credit owed to Chris, and also to those who are working to bring out his strengths even more. His team-mates, of course, but especially Massimiliano Allegri.

In two years in Italy, we appreciated Pulisic as a right winger, capable of darting and running up and down the flank. In Max’s 3-5-2, however, the American has become dramatically more incisive in front of goal. His seven goals in nine league games (nine in 12 including the cup) show this.

A change in position

A look at the heat maps of his touches from last season and this season makes for interesting viewing. In 2024-25, on the right of a three-man attack, he moved to the wing. In 2025-26, despite being part of a two-man attack, he doesn’t play much further forward.

Instead, he touches the ball from the left, almost returning to his roots. At Borussia Dortmund, with the national team, and at Chelsea, he often received the ball from the left winger position, allowing him to cut inside and finish on goal.

Clearly, the fact that he’s virtually never played alongside Rafael Leao has an impact. The Portuguese also likes to start from the left, although in his new role as a centre-forward, he’s less inclined to move out wide.

Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

Christian, on the other hand, has more freedom to choose where to move and strike. And never mind if his passing, crossing, dribbling, fouls suffered and even recoveries have decreased compared to the past.

Pulisic is less involved in the play today, but decidedly more lethal. A killer when it comes to putting the ball in the back of the net: his seven league goals have come from just 14 shots, ten of which were on target.

“When Chris shoots, goalkeepers toll the death knell,” declared Allegri’s assistant, Marco Landucci, who was a goalkeeper as a player in the 1980s and 1990s. Probably also because he finishes more calmly, without having to stress himself out first.

The talisman

The American has also outlasted his injuries (the last one caused him to miss the home game against Lazio) and, in the comeback over Torino, even the fever that had plagued him in the days leading up to the match.

In his previous two years at Milan he had always performed well, but in this third season he has added a quality that often separates excellent players from winners: the ability to be decisive in the most crucial moments or when the team truly needs it.

Pulisic sealed victories in the big matches against Napoli and Inter, before inspiring the Torino comeback when the Rossoneri were struggling. No one in Serie A has such a decisive player, who, among other things, can focus exclusively on the league.

The season with Milan will then lead to a historic event for the United States, with the World Cup being played on home soil for the second time in history. An event that Chris, as captain of the American national team, obviously holds dear.

It will be an adventure to be enjoyed to the fullest, but first he has to think about the Rossoneri. In addition to the goal of returning to the Champions League (and maybe going for his first Scudetto) there will also be discussions about his future.

Pulisic’s contract expires in June 2027, although there is a (presumed) option for an additional year in Milan and the intention is to extend his contract for at least two more seasons, with a consequent salary increase.