Hugo Ekitike Out for Season and 2026 World Cup

Hugo Ekitike, a 23-year-old player for Liverpool FC, will not participate in the 2026 World Cup after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon during a Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night. Ekitike was carried off on a stretcher in the first half, raising immediate concerns about a serious injury.

A scan conducted on Wednesday confirmed the worst, ruling him out for the remainder of the club season and France's summer campaign. Didier Deschamps, the manager of the French national team, confirmed the setback in a statement published by the French Football Federation.

Ekitike joined Liverpool from Eintracht Frankfurt last July and quickly became a standout player, scoring 17 goals and providing six assists across competitions. In January, he became the second Liverpool player, after Kenny Dalglish, to score five goals in his debut season.

Liverpool's injury list remains lengthy, including players like Alisson Becker and Watari Endo, who are recovering from injuries.