Ekitike's Season Ends: Striker to Miss World Cup 2026

Liverpool striker Ekitike will miss the rest of the season and the World Cup 2026 due to an injury.

According to RMC Sport, the player was injured during the Champions League quarter-final match against PSG (0:2) and had to leave the field during the game.

French national team member Ekitike will undergo a medical examination on Wednesday. Preliminary estimates suggest that he may have a rupture of the Achilles tendon.

Orthopedic surgeon Nicolas Bodrie commented on the situation in an interview with L’Équipe, saying that the likelihood of another diagnosis is very low based on the footage.

According to him, the player tried to stand up twice but couldn't. Such injuries usually do not occur due to contact with an opponent, but rather due to a sudden change of direction or a jump.

The expert also emphasized that pre-existing chronic tendinitis, micro-tears, cysts, or hamstring strains could lead to such severe consequences.

According to sources, if the rupture of the Achilles tendon is confirmed and surgery is performed, even in the best-case scenario, his return to the field will take approximately nine months.