Christian Pulisic Recounts Viral World Cup Photo That 'Wasn't Really Supposed to Get Out'

The USMNT star made waves during and after the U.S.’s November 2022 win over Iran.

The United States gave a decent account of itself in its first World Cup in eight years in 2022, going 1-0-2 before falling to the Netherlands in the round of 16.

That would not have been possible without AC Milan attacking midfielder/winger Christian Pulisic, whose goal in the 38th minute against Iran helped push the Stars and Stripes through to the next stage. The feat was made even more remarkable by the fact that Pulisic suffered a pelvic contusion scoring the goal.

After the victory, a photo surfaced and quickly went viral of Pulisic celebrating the U.S.’s victory from a hospital bed. In a video clip tweeted Sunday afternoon, Pulisic broke down the photo with Bleacher Report’s Taylor Rooks.

"I don't know if you can see this photo. I know you're familiar with the photo, but it is you when you are in the hospital bed, the Snapchat filter. Tell me the story of this photo from your point of view," Rooks prompted Pulisic.

“That photo wasn’t really supposed to get out,” Pulisic smiled. “I went straight to the hospital, like at halftime … of that game … I was all kind of in a bit of a shock at that moment.”

“That photo wasn’t really supposed to get out.”

Christian Pulisic breaks down his viral World Cup pic 😅

(via @taylorrooks) pic.twitter.com/1SGwpNZeSE

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 23, 2023

Pulisic remarked that he was barely aware of what was going on as the clock ticked down on an American victory.

"I was watching the game and just watching anxiously, waiting for that final whistle," Pulisic said. "And once it went off, those emotions were massive for me."

He clarified that he put the photo on his private story, but it somehow got out— luckily for American fans eager to add to the legend of one of their country’s most gifted soccer talents.