The soccer world was once again captivated by the brilliance of its biggest stars this past weekend. Mohamed Salah continued his goalscoring dominance for Liverpool, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius led Real Madrid to another crucial victory, yet none of them shone as brightly as Christian Pulisic, who delivered a match-winning display for Milan.
The American winger was instrumental in the Rossoneri’s dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Lecce, scoring twice to help his team snap a three-game losing streak in Serie A. His performance was so outstanding that WhoScored.com named him “Player of the Week” across Europe’s top five leagues, awarding him a stellar 9.06 rating.
Milan came into their match against Lecce in dire form, having suffered three consecutive Serie A defeats and crashing out of the UEFA Champions League playoffs against Feyenoord. Their confidence was at rock bottom, and when they found themselves 2-0 down at Stadio Via del Mare, it seemed as if their crisis was only deepening.
Then, the game turned. The Rossoneri received a stroke of luck in the 68th minute, when Joao Felix’s mis-hit shot was deflected in off Lecce’s Antonino Gallo, giving Sergio Conceicao a glimmer of hope. From there, Pulisic took over.
Pulisic’s match-winning brilliance
Just five minutes later, the USMNT star won and converted a penalty, bringing Milan level. And in the 81st minute, he produced the game’s defining moment—meeting a pinpoint cross from Rafael Leao at the back post to fire home the winning goal.
It was a champion’s response from a player who has quietly been one of Milan’s most consistent performers this season. After the match, Lega Serie A awarded the 26-year-old the Man of the Match honor, recognizing his immense influence on the game. “We needed a reaction, and we showed character,” he said after the match. “I’m happy to help the team win.”
WhoScored’s statistical breakdown
Pulisic’s impact went beyond just his goals. WhoScored.com, which ranks players based on detailed match analytics, awarded him a 9.06 rating, making him the best player of the weekend across Europe’s top leagues.
His stats were impressive: he scored two goals, including the match-winner, had three shots, always being a threat in attack, created four key passes, and completed four dribbles, showcasing his ability to beat defenders. These numbers highlight why Serie A winger’s performance was rated higher than the contributions of Mbappe, Vinicius, and Salah.
