Hugo Ekiteke will miss the 2026 World Cup with France and will be sidelined for an extended period due to the injury he sustained during Liverpool’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain.
The Reds’ striker was stretchered off the pitch in tears after just 22 minutes of play.
Recent reports indicate that Ekiteke heard a “pop” in his Achilles tendon before collapsing to the ground. Initial examinations confirmed the tendon was damaged, with further tests pending to determine whether the tear is partial or complete.
Manager Arne Slot said on Tuesday night that the injury “doesn’t look good,” while teammate Ibrahima Konaté commented: “I think it’s bad. I don’t know, I’ve heard a lot of things, and I’m speechless because the World Cup is so close, making it very difficult for him. My thoughts are with him.”
The recovery period from a ruptured Achilles tendon typically ranges from nine to ten months.
Thus, the 23-year-old’s hopes of playing for his country in the 2026 World Cup have been dashed, and he will not return to Liverpool until at least the start of next year.
It’s worth noting that Liverpool paid over €80 million to acquire Ekike, who has been their star player this season, scoring 17 goals and providing six assists in all competitions.
