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Liverpool and France forward Hugo Ekitike has been ruled out of the 2026 World Cup following a devastating injury during his club’s Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain.
The injury occurred during the first half of Liverpool’s 2-0 defeat on Tuesday, when Ekitike collapsed to the ground, clutching his lower right leg with a suspected ruptured Achilles tendon.
“Unfortunately, the severity of (Ekitike’s) injury will prevent him from finishing the season with Liverpool and taking part in the World Cup,” Deschamps said in a statement released by the French football federation.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot also expressed his concern, admitting, “It looks really bad, but difficult for me to say how bad.”
Slot acknowledged the difficult season Liverpool has had, currently sitting fifth in the Premier League, and added, “Losing a player is something we have had many times this season, but it is especially hard for him because you never want to be injured, especially at this time of the season.”
Since his £79 million move to Anfield last summer, Ekitike has made an impact with 17 goals in 45 matches across all competitions.
His international performances for France have also been promising, with two goals and one assist in his eight caps. However, his absence from the World Cup marks a huge personal setback for the talented forward and a significant blow to both Liverpool and France as they head into the crucial months ahead.
