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Fans of the U.S. men's soccer team (USMNT) were treated to a thrilling World Cup game on Tuesday in which player Christian Pulisic scored the game's only goal in the first half of the match to secure USMNT's eventual victory over Iran and send the U.S. team to the knockout round.
But the goal's celebration was quickly overshadowed by another event—the injury Pulisic sustained after colliding with Iran's goalkeeper in what appeared to be a bit of a nutcracker, if you will.
Yeah, it really, really looked like Pulisic got hit squarely in the balls.
But according to the man himself, that's thankfully not what happened.
\u201cHere is Christian Pulisic talking, in full, about his pelvis and his balls\u201d— Henry Bushnell (@Henry Bushnell) 1669915046
Speaking in a press conference about whether or not he got hit in the testicles, Pulisic said:
"I didn't get hit in the balls."
Whatever happened on Tuesday, it was definitely no laughing matter.
After scoring the game's only goal, Pulisic almost immediately hit the ground writhing in pain—and appearing to grasp his groin in agony.
He attempted to walk it off and keep playing, but to no avail. He had to be replaced at half-time so he could be taken to a hospital for further examination. As he explained in the press conference, the injury he suffered was a pelvic contusion.
Asked to explain what that is, exactly, Pulisic said:
"Umm... yeah... it's a pelvic contusion, you know?"
After a reporter asked if that was a "euphemism" for something—like getting hit in the balls—Pulisic confirmed it was not.
"Like, I didn't like get hit in the balls. I'm alright."
He did add, however, a pelvic contusion—whatever it is—is as painful as it sounds.
"It was very painful... That bone is there for a reason, to protect you, I think, and I hit it well."
On Twitter, all this talk of Pulisic's pelvis and testicles definitely got people's attention.
\u201c@ByDougMcIntyre\u201d— Doug McIntyre (@Doug McIntyre) 1669907539
\u201c@HenryBushnell If Christian Pulisic is "Captain America," then these are America's balls we're talking about here. Serious stuff. \u26bd\ufe0f\u26bd\ufe0f\u201d— Henry Bushnell (@Henry Bushnell) 1669915046
\u201c@ByDougMcIntyre\u201d— Doug McIntyre (@Doug McIntyre) 1669907539
\u201cWhatever is injured in his pelvic region, I will care for it.\u201d— Bart (@Bart) 1669921642
\u201cI\nI believe \nI believe that\nI believe that Christian\nI believe that Christian Pulisic\nI believe that Christian Pulisic got hit in the balls\u201d— Molly (@Molly) 1669912725
\u201cSo I love that this stage of the world cup is just Americans trying to figure out if Christian Pulisic injured his balls during the Iran game. \n\nNever change guys\n\n#USMNT #WorldCup\u201d— CentralScore | liberal arts degree arc (@CentralScore | liberal arts degree arc) 1669935885
\u201cAs we all know, this photo really says "Actually, I got hit in the balls."\nhttps://t.co/PTokWjbpPv\u201d— Jeremiah Oshan (@Jeremiah Oshan) 1669913670
\u201cIn First Interview Since Not Getting Hit In The Balls, Christian Pulisic Opens Up About Not Getting Hit In The Balls\u201d— pourmecoffee (@pourmecoffee) 1669928180
\u201cUrgent clarification from Christian Pulisic:\n\n\u2018I didn\u2019t get hit in the balls\u2019\n\nGood to clear that one up\n\nBy @tom_lutz \n\nhttps://t.co/eaNCRvokh7\u201d— Stephen McMillan (@Stephen McMillan) 1669915564
Given Pulisic's condition, it is still an open question whether he'll be able to play in the team's next match-up against the Netherlands this Saturday.
Pusilic told the press he is "doing everything I can to be available" to play.
We wish him and his pelvis but definitely not his balls a speedy recovery.