Ekitike ruled out for rest of season and World Cup with Achilles injury
Ekitike ruled out for rest of season and World Cup with Achilles injury
France striker Hugo Ekitike suffers a suspected Achilles rupture, ruling him out of the remainder of the season and the World Cup, a significant blow for both France and Liverpool.
France manager Didier Deschamps has confirmed that Hugo Ekitike will miss the rest of the season and the World Cup after suffering a suspected Achilles injury during Liverpool's Champions League quarter-final defeat by Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.
Deschamps suggested the injury could shape his squad plans, noting Ekitike would have likely started on the left in a 4-2-3-1 alongside Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele in the front four. Doctors are awaiting scans to determine whether the rupture is partial or full, which will decide whether the forward is out for around six months or closer to a year, possibly longer.
The setback is a heartbreaking blow for Ekitike personally, given his recent form and contribution to the national team during the international window in the United States, including a goal against Brazil and a substitute appearance vs Colombia. It also raises questions for Liverpool as they assess options for the next season, especially if the injury proves to be a full rupture affecting recovery time and squad planning.
If the injury sidelined him for nine to twelve months, Liverpool may need to explore alternate attacking options for the campaign ahead, while France must adapt their attacking plans without a player who had been building momentum at club level and on the international stage. With scans pending, the immediate focus will be on the prognosis and the steps toward rehabilitation for Ekitike, his club and his country.
