THE INCREDIBLE STORY OF NICLAS FULLKRUG’S FIRST GOAL SINCE APRIL DESPITE HIS RECENT TRAGEDIES
Niclas Fullkrug overcomes injury and a €500k robbery to score Milan’s winner. Plus, Paulo Dybala inspires Roma to a crucial win.
Germany’s Fullkrug, on loan from West Ham, finally broke his long goal drought—his first since last April—giving Milan a much-needed win over a stubborn Lecce. With that goal, he kept Milan right on Inter’s heels, just three points behind.
Fullkrug—big guy, 32—nodded in Alexis Saelemaekers’s clever cross in the 76th minute. The San Siro erupted. Relief, mostly, after watching Milan struggle to break Lecce down.
“I got an incredible assist from Ale. Honestly, this is what every striker dreams of—a ball like that,” Fullkrug told DAZN. “I’m just grateful to be here, wearing this shirt, getting the trust a striker needs. The group’s great; the atmosphere’s even better. I’m totally happy.”
Wladimiro Falcone tried his best to keep Lecce alive, pulling off two ridiculous saves against Samuel Ricci and Christian Pulisic. But when Fullkrug got his chance, Falcone couldn’t do a thing—especially considering what Fullkrug’s been through since moving to Milan.
He broke a toe not long after arriving, and then, as if that wasn’t enough, local news says thieves stole half a million euros’ worth of watches and jewellery from his hotel room while Milan played at Como.
But Fullkrug made sure Milan didn’t slip up again against a struggling side. Lecce ended up dropping into the relegation zone, right behind Fiorentina, who had beaten Bologna 2-0 earlier that day.
When DAZN asked if his goal made up for all the recent bad luck, Fullkrug just grinned. “Yeah, it’s enough.”
Up next for Milan? Roma, who just handled Torino 2-0, thanks to Paulo Dybala’s standout game. He set up Donyell Malen for a slick close-range finish in the first half, then put the match away himself in the 72nd minute.
Dybala’s been struggling this season—injuries, a new coach in Gian Piero Gasperini, and the feeling that Matias Soule’s rise could spell the end for him in Rome. But against Torino, Dybala looked sharp. He scored his first goal in almost three months, finishing off Devyne Rensch’s cross with style. That win put Roma at 42 points, still four behind Milan but three clear of Juventus in the Champions League race.
“Dybala was really good today. Our first goal? Just fantastic,” Gasperini said. “You can see he and Malen are really starting to click.”
Roma have seen some European success lately—Conference League winners, Europa League finalists—but haven’t played in the Champions League since 2018/19, when Porto knocked them out in the last 16.
Fiorentina’s win in Bologna meant a lot, especially after the news that American media tycoon Rocco Commisso passed away at 76. The club honoured him with a minute’s silence before the match.
Commisso, born in Italy, built Mediacom into one of the biggest cable TV companies in America. He loved football—owned the New York Cosmos before buying Fiorentina in 2019. He hired Vincenzo Italiano, now Bologna’s coach, who led Fiorentina to three finals: two Conference League and one Italian Cup.
Italiano, who lifted a cup with Bologna last season, has found this winter tough. After a strong start, his team managed just five points in nine matches since December.
PULISIC HITS BACK: MILAN STAR SHUTS DOWN 2026 GOAL DROUGHT CONCERNS
"I haven't stopped dreaming." Christian Pulisic addresses his goal drought and the frustration of missing out on the Gold Cup squad.
Christian Pulisic isn’t holding back. When critics started questioning his recent form and worried about his 2026 goal drought, he shut them down, calling those concerns “bad questions". The AC Milan forward, fresh off his Time magazine cover, still trusts his ability to step up for the USMNT as they gear up to co-host the World Cup.
All eyes are on him.
The U.S. is set to share the stage for the 2026 World Cup, and Pulisic is set to become the go-to guy for the national team. Landing on the cover of Time isn’t something soccer stars from America get every day, and it just shows how big a deal he’s become, especially after proving himself in Europe. But right as people are finally giving him mainstream recognition, he’s under the microscope for not putting up his usual numbers in front of the goal.
He’s not fazed by the dip.
When Time asked about his goal drought and how he’s handling not scoring for club or country this year, Pulisic didn’t mince words; he’s not sweating it. “I plan on scoring goals. Such bad questions. I’m not concerned about it, man.” You can hear the confidence in his voice.
Dealing with the noise
Pulisic admits this stretch feels extra tough. Missing out on last June’s Gold Cup squad hurt him, mostly because he’s used to shutting people up with his play. “Normally, I just go out there and score, and that quiets everybody. Right now, I’m in my offseason, so everyone’s talking, and I can’t do anything about it. That’s what’s frustrating.”
For Pulisic, attacking is everything. “Going at the goal, creating attacks, that’s what I live for. Sure, you have to do all the other stuff: defend, run, whatever. That’s fine. But what really gives me joy is finding ways to score and actually scoring.”
Chasing the dream
The U.S. opens their World Cup run against Paraguay at the SoFi Stadium on June 12, and Pulisic will lead the team right here at home. He doesn’t like making big public predictions, but at 27, he keeps that childhood dream alive. “That’s just not how I work. But I’ll lie in bed and imagine myself holding the World Cup trophy. I did that when I was a kid, and I haven’t stopped. You need to believe. Why not?”
WHY DID LAUTARO MARTINEZ REJECT A CAREER-DEFINING MOVE TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE?
"I love Milan." Read why 28-year-old Lautaro Martinez rejected Manchester United and Arsenal to stay at the San Siro in 2026.
Inter captain Lautaro Martinez has clearly put an end to any speculation about leaving San Siro, making it known that he has no plans to entertain offers from Europe’s top clubs. Even with regular links to teams like Barcelona, Manchester United, and Arsenal, the Argentine forward is fully committed to what’s happening in Milan.
Martinez has been quite vocal about his dedication to Inter amid constant rumours about his future. Despite frequent connections to some of the biggest clubs on the continent, he insists there’s no reason for him to move on from the current Serie A champions.
Media reports have often tied him to Barcelona, PSG, Arsenal, and Manchester United. But through various transfer windows, Martinez has consistently pushed back on the idea of leaving Inter. At 28, he remains a key figure in the team’s current setup and has stepped up as the club’s captain and on-field leader.
In an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio, Martinez expressed his loyalty to Inter’s project. He made it clear that he isn’t interested in changing clubs despite the speculation.
He said, “No, because I am faithful to the Inter project, I feel at home here. My family is happy, we have a restaurant in the city, and we love Milan. From the first day, everyone treated me in a way I didn’t think possible. I achieved so many personal and team goals here.”
Success on the pitch seems to deepen his connection to the club. Inter recently secured another league title and continues to chase trophies, including the Coppa Italia. On an individual level, Martinez is eyeing the Capocannoniere prize as Serie A’s top scorer. His steady performances underline why he’s considered one of the most reliable forwards in European football.
Since his move from Racing Club in 2018, Martinez has become the defining presence in Inter’s modern lineup. With 173 goals over 372 competitive games, it’s clear how vital he is to the team.
Looking ahead, the club sees Martinez as a central piece in their long-term plans. His leadership and scoring ability make him hard to replace. Settled both on and off the field in Milan, he seems set on continuing his story at the Giuseppe Meazza, despite ongoing interest from Europe’s elite clubs.
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