The 2025 Gold Cup is just around the corner, but in the United States, a drama is beginning to unfold, fueling tension both inside and outside the locker room—centered around head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
On the field, things haven’t gone well. The USMNT was knocked out in the semifinals of the Nations League Final Four back in March and recently lost 2–1 to Turkey in a friendly. They’ll face Switzerland on Tuesday before fully shifting their focus to the upcoming Concacaf tournament.
However, weeks ago, the Argentine coach announced the final roster for the Gold Cup, and several notable names were missing: Antonee Robinson (injury), Weston McKennie and Tim Weah (Club World Cup duty with Juventus), Sergiño Dest (recovering from a torn ligament). But the biggest surprise was the absence of star forward Christian Pulisic.
The AC Milan winger cited fatigue after a grueling European season and agreed it would be best to take the summer off to rest and properly prepare for 2025–26. That decision didn’t sit well with everyone—especially U.S. soccer legend Landon Donovan.
What did Landon Donovan say about Pulisic’s absence?
While commentating on the UEFA Nations League final—which Portugal won on penalties over Spain—Donovan made remarks that echoed across U.S. soccer circles. Speaking on FOX Sports, he praised Cristiano Ronaldo’s commitment to his national team, contrasting it with what he sees as a lack of dedication from others.
“This is what it means to represent your country,” Donovan said. “As an international footballer, if you’re not going to take it seriously or treat it with responsibility, then don’t show up.”
“Cristiano is 40, he’s had a long season, and he’s still out there grinding—and he even picked up an injury. Meanwhile, I can’t help but think about our guys on vacation, choosing not to play in the Gold Cup. It bothers me.”
While Donovan didn’t name anyone directly, the message was clearly aimed at Pulisic.
Pulisic’s father claps back
After Donovan’s comments went viral, Mark Pulisic, Christian’s father, responded with a social media post—apparently using ChatGPT to highlight Donovan’s own 2013 sabbatical that led to his exclusion from the 2014 World Cup squad by Jürgen Klinsmann.
“Landon Donovan took a sabbatical due to feeling mentally and physically exhausted after years of intense competition and the pressure of being a top athlete. The break allowed him to recharge and return with a fresh mindset.”
At the time, Donovan was 31 and stepped away from the game for 144 days. Pulisic, notably, is only 26—and liked his father’s post.
Weston McKennie and Clint Dempsey weigh in
Teammate Weston McKennie also came to Pulisic’s defense, telling USA Today Sports:
“None of us take playing for the national team for granted. We all want to compete. And for me, it’s a little… I won’t say sad, but as a former national team player, I think it’s more productive to reach out and say something directly, rather than putting it out there.”
see also
Christian Pulisic out! Confirmed USMNT roster for Gold Cup 2025 by Pochettino
Meanwhile, Clint Dempsey, another former teammate of Donovan, also reacted on The Deuce podcast:
“It’s like showing up at the table when it’s time to eat, but where were you when we were out there under the sun grinding, planting the seeds, playing tough away games with our backs against the wall?”
