Liverpool striker, Hugo Ekitiké (23 years old) had a good season with 17 goals and 6 assists in 45 matches but will not be in the 2026 World Cup. The fault is a ruptured Achilles tendon against Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-final second leg of the Champions League which will sideline him from the field until the end of 2026 at least. A real blow for him who had managed to find his way into the French group (8 caps, 2 goals) but also for the Blues. At a press conference, coach Didier Deschamps deplored his loss.
“Hugo’s injury and absence are very painful for him and a loss for us. He had integrated perfectly into the team, both on and off the pitch, and the whole group supports him. Through his profile and his style of play, Ekitiké brought an important additional option thanks to his mobility, his presence in the game and his ability to create spaces at high speed. But other selections must also do without major players. Injuries are every coach’s nightmare“, he said.
