Hugo Ekitike will miss the 2026 World Cup for France after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon during Champions League play on Tuesday, according to ESPN’s Julien Laurens.
The Liverpool forward went down with a non-contact injury during the first half of their quarterfinal loss to Barcelona. Minutes after being tended to by medical personnel, Ekitike was stretchered off and replaced by Mohamed Salah.
Ekitike, 23, is scheduled for scans on Wednesday to determine the severity of the injury. The estimated recovery period for the injury is 9-12 months.
“It doesn’t look good,” Liverpool manager Arne Slot said after the match. “It’s difficult for me to say how bad.”
That timeframe would rule Ekitike out of consideration for France's World Cup team this summer. In eight appearances on the international level, he has two goals. He recently saw action in both of France's recent friendlies against Brazil and Colombia.
Ekitike, who is in his first season with Liverpool after joining last summer from Eintracht Frankfurt, has 17 goals in all competitions this season.
