Liverpool and France striker Ekitike ruled out for up to nine months, will miss World Cup – France statement confirms
France will be without striker Hugo Ekitike for this summer's World Cup
Hugo Ekitike has suffered a ruptured Achilles and will miss the World Cup and potentially the rest of 2026, the France manager Didier Deschamps has confirmed.
The Liverpool striker collapsed to the turf during the first half of the 2-0 Champions League defeat against Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield last night and it soon became apparent he was in distress.
Players from both teams – including several of PSG’s France contingent – gathered round him before he was taken off the field on a stretcher.
“Hugo suffered a serious injury on Tuesday evening against PSG. The severity of his injury will unfortunately prevent him from finishing the season with Liverpool and participating in the World Cup,” confirmed Deschamps in a statement published by the French Football Federation.
“Hugo is one of the dozen young players who have made their debuts with the national team in recent months.
“He had perfectly integrated into the group, both on the pitch and off it. This injury is a huge blow for him, of course, but also for the France team.
“His disappointment is immense. Hugo will regain his top form, I’m convinced of it. But I wanted to express all my support to him, as well as that of the entire staff.
“We know he’ll be fully behind the France team, and we’re all thinking of him very strongly.”
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Ekitike could be out nine months
Leading French daily L’Equipe reported the 23-year-old was set to be sidelined for up to nine months and that was confirmed by Fabrizio Romano.
Ekitike loss a massive blow for club and country
It is a huge blow for Ekitike, as well as France and Liverpool.
The Reds’ under-pressure boss Arne Slot told Amazon Prime Video Sport after last night’s game: “Not too good. We could all see it didn’t look good. Let’s wait and see what it will be. In the second half he went home and I haven’t seen him yet.
“As it seems to be, 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.”
Ekitike joined Liverpool from Eintracht Frankfurt for an initial £69million last summer and has made a good impression, scoring 15 goals in 41 games in all competitions.