​Landon Donovan is continuing his sharp critique of USMNT star Christian Pulisic. Earlier this week, the Fox Sports analyst was among the most prominent voices slamming Pulisic for leaving the field with a sprained ankle during the United States’ defeat to Belgium. Donovan argued that if he were nursing an injury in an elimination game for the USMNT, “you would have had to drag me off the field.” His pointed remarks drew considerable attention in the aftermath of the team’s World Cup exit and added fuel to a long-running feud between two of the country’s most celebrated soccer figures.
On his Unfiltered Soccer podcast, Donovan expanded on his doubts about Pulisic, saying that players, staff, and sponsors around the USMNT are “fed up” with Pulisic’s circle. “I speak to people at U.S. Soccer, I speak to his sponsors, I speak to his teammates, I speak to the staff and the coaches. People are fed up with the way things are handled around him,” Donovan stated. “And it’s not necessarily him, but it’s his agents, his family, his hangers-on, the people that are influencing him. People are fed up with it. They treat people poorly. They do things poorly. It’s always a no whenever you want to ask him to do an interview. It’s always a no; you can’t get near him.”
Continuing with his original line of critique, Donovan drew parallels between his own struggles after the 2006 World Cup and Pulisic’s current situation. He recounted that after a rough start in his first major international tournament at age 24, he began therapy and cleared his mind, which helped him adopt a more effective approach for the remainder of his career. He also advised Pulisic to take more ownership of his career, suggesting fewer advertisements and possibly even media training.
“(Pulisic) needs to man up and have a conversation with (his reps) and say, ‘Look guys, this is not helping me,’” Donovan said. “He needs to get some training on media. I did, too. I said a lot of dumb sh*t … but all of these things can be a positive. I have to say, though, he has a big challenge ahead of him.” The relationship between Donovan and Pulisic has been strained, with Donovan acknowledging that they no longer enjoy a close bond and that he’s uncertain whether Pulisic respects him.
The tension between the two centers around the period last year when Donovan criticized Pulisic for opting out of the Gold Cup, a major tune-up event for the World Cup, instead choosing rest during the club off-season. Donovan believes that decision, and the broader pattern he perceives in Pulisic’s circle, further complicate their dynamic. He asserted that he and Pulisic “don’t have a great relationship,” and he doubted that Pulisic appreciates or respects him.
Donovan’s previous public stance has echoed through a storied career that includes a controversial sabbatical before the 2014 World Cup, which culminated in his omission from the USMNT roster for that tournament. In light of that history, Donovan’s latest comments arrive with a mix of credibility and notoriety, fueling the ongoing conversation about the best way for Pulisic to navigate his responsibilities, media presence, and leadership role within the national team. While critics may question the messenger, the exchange underscores a broader debate about accountability, media training, and the pressures facing a generation of U.S. soccer stars amid high expectations and intense scrutiny.