Hugo Ekitike set to miss World Cup after devastating Achilles injury

Hugo Ekitike is reportedly facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines that could rule him out of the 2026 World Cup after sustaining a serious Achilles tendon injury during UEFA Champions League action.

The 23-year-old forward was forced off on a stretcher during Liverpool FC’s 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-final second leg, a result that saw the Reds eliminated 4-0 on aggregate.

Ekitike went down off the ball around the 30-minute mark, clutching his ankle in visible pain.

There was an immediate sense of concern inside the stadium. PSG players, his former teammates from his 2023-2024 spell in Paris, were seen consoling him as he laid on the turf before being carried off.

The striker looked distraught, aware of the potential severity of the injury. Liverpool manager Arne Slot did little to ease fears after the game.

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“Hugo looks really bad; it doesn’t look good,” he admitted.

Initial reports now indicate that Ekitike has suffered an Achilles tendon injury that could keep him out for up to nine months.

If confirmed, it would be a crushing blow not only to Liverpool but also to his international ambitions with the French national football team.

Ekitike had been enjoying a strong debut season since his move from Eintracht Frankfurt, scoring 16 goals and emerging as an outside contender for France’s World Cup squad.

FKA/JE

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