Christian Pulisic and AC Milan Fail to Qualify for Champions League After Final-Day Defeat

What happened: final-day defeat costs Milan a top-four finish

AC Milan failed to qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League after a 2-1 home defeat to Cagliari on the final day of the 2025-26 Serie A season. The result, played on Matchday 38, left Milan outside the top four as they slipped from fourth to fifth in the final standings and will instead play in the Europa League in 2026-27.

Why it matters

Missing out on the Champions League has immediate sporting and financial consequences for AC Milan. According to reporting referenced in the source, failure to reach Europe's top competition will reduce Milan's transfer-market resources significantly, and the club faces decisions over its squad and coach ambitions after a season that began with high expectations under Massimiliano Allegri.

How the match unfolded

Alexis Saelemaekers put Milan ahead inside two minutes, giving the hosts a perfect start and what looked like a path back into the Champions League places. Cagliari's Gennaro Borrelli equalised in the 20th minute, and substitute Juan Rodriguez scored the decisive goal in the 57th minute to complete Cagliari's comeback. Christian Pulisic was introduced from the bench, replacing Santiago Gimenez, but could not turn the game in Milan's favour. Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan made several important saves during the match.

Season context: a campaign that unravelled

Milan began the 2025-26 season strongly under Allegri and were inside the top four from early on, but form deteriorated in 2026. The source reports Milan managed only two wins from eight games between April and May, a run that ultimately cost them their Champions League place and leaves the club facing a summer of potential change.

• Final score: AC Milan 1–2 Cagliari (Matchday 38).
• Scorers: Alexis Saelemaekers (Milan), Gennaro Borrelli and Juan Rodriguez (Cagliari).
• Milan dropped from fourth to fifth in the 2025-26 Serie A final table.
• Top four: Inter Milan (champions), Napoli (second), AS Roma (third), Como (fourth).
• Milan will play in the Europa League next season; Juventus finished sixth and Atalanta seventh (Conference League).
• Reported financial impact: loss of roughly €100m in transfer-market firepower cited from La Gazzetta dello Sport in the source.

Implications for players and transfer market

The source notes speculation that Luka Modric is widely expected to move on and that Christian Pulisic's future will be subject to scrutiny after a goalless 2026. These are reported expectations rather than official club announcements and should be confirmed with club statements or additional reporting before being treated as confirmed moves.

What happens next

AC Milan face a summer of decisions about squad rebuilding and transfer spending if the reported financial shortfall proves accurate. Managerial plans and adjustments to the squad are likely to be the focus as the club prepares for Europa League football in 2026-27.