Christian Pulisic at the heart of AC Milan’s early-season success

Christian Pulisic was a rare bright light for AC Milan last season. The USA international registered 20 goal contributions for a team that finished eighth in the Serie A table, earning praise for driving the Rossoneri forward when everything around him collapsed. Pulisic was a one-man team at times.

This season, it appears the 27-year-old might have some help. AC Milan have started the 2025/26 campaign strongly. After losing to Cremonese on opening weekend, the San Siro side embarked on a three-game winning streak, culminating in Saturday’s 3-0 dismantling of Udinese, their best all-round performance so far.

Pulisic scored two and set up another, having a hand in all three Rossoneri goals. He was the most impactful player on the pitch, hinting that the American could reach an even higher level in a more functional team. Pulisic could be the biggest winner out of AC Milan’s dramatic improvement.

Not everyone was certain that AC Milan would improve after a tumultuous summer. They lost several key figures including Tijani Reijnders, as the midfield fulcrum departed to join Manchester City in a deal worth €55m. The Dutch international, along with Pulisic, was the Rossoneri’s best player last season and so there was concern over how he would be replaced.

Theo Hernandez also left to join Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League after a challenging final season which saw the French full back drop out of the lineup. Malick Thiaw departed for Newcastle United, leading to an argument that AC Milan had become a selling club rather than a team intent on challenging for the Scudetto any time soon. 

A summer recruitment drive followed with Christopher Nkunku, Ardon Jashari, Samuele Ricco, Koni De Winter, Pervis Estupinan, Adrien Rabiot and David Odogu all arriving at the San Siro. Some of these players have yet to be integrated into Allegri’s team while others have already made an impact.

No new arrival, however, has made an impact like Luka Modric. The 40-year-old has wound back the clock to immediately become a key figure for AC Milan, giving the Rossoneri the drive and creativity through the centre of the pitch they often lacked last season. Modric is back to his best in his new surroundings.

“Luka is an extraordinary player and it’s a pleasure to watch him, but he is also a humble guy, like a great champion,” said Allegri when asked about the impact Modric has made on AC Milan and Serie A as a whole since joining in the summer. “He knows beforehand where the ball will go, and has such great technique.”

There have been signs of a burgeoning understanding between Modric and Pulisic on the pitch. The American will surely benefit from playing alongside one of the best midfielder creators of his generation, and even more so if AC Milan can provide the tactical framework around Pulisic for the wide attacker to play with freedom.

“We have a great team. The important thing now is to be consistent, take it one game at a time, and have a great season,” said Pulisic after his Man of the Match performance against Udinese on Saturday, somewhat side-stepping the question concerning AC Milan’s hopes of winning the Italian title this season.

Napoli are still the team to beat. Antonio Conte’s side have shown flaws in their opening four games of the 2025/26 season, but still have a perfect record at the top of the Serie A table. The defending champions strengthened significantly over the summer, adding Kevin de Bruyne and Rasmus Hojlund to their ranks, and look to be in good shape.

Juventus have improved over the summer, taking 10 points from a possible 12 to start the season. Igor Tudor is getting through to his players, none more so than Kenan Yildiz who has taken a big leap forward under the new Juve manager, becoming one of the best young attackers in the world.

Inter Milan can’t be discounted, although two defeats from four games suggests the Nerazzurri are struggling to move on from the Simone Inzaghi era. The balance of power within the San Siro, shared by Milan’s two rival clubs, might have shifted since the end of last season. Pulisic could be at the heart of it.