Injuries are becoming a major concern for top soccer players ahead of next month’s World Cup. Among the star players facing issues, Lionel Messi is now added to the list, alongside Lamine Yamal. Both Kylian Mbappé and Mohamed Salah have fortunately recovered from their injuries as they prepare for the tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Messi, the celebrated Argentine player, exited the field during a Major League Soccer match for Inter Miami, after feeling discomfort in his left hamstring. Meanwhile, Spain’s rising talent, Lamine Yamal, has been recovering from a muscle injury in his left leg, which kept him out for the final weeks of Barcelona’s season. Signs point to his readiness in time for the World Cup.
However, not every player has been so lucky. French forward Hugo Ekitike incurred an Achilles injury back in April, which often requires over six months for full recovery. This will cause him to miss the World Cup, and likely the start of Liverpool’s next season. Brazilian stars Rodrygo and Éder Militão have also been ruled out, along with Bayern Munich’s Serge Gnabry, who suffered an adductor injury during training.
The demanding schedules of players have raised concerns. Many players and coaches have voiced warnings about the intensified pressure due to the busy timeline. This expanded World Cup follows on the heels of the recent supersized Club World Cup and an enlarged Champions League setup. Arsenal’s manager Mikel Arteta highlighted the risk, suggesting that it is akin to “an accident waiting to happen.”
With the World Cup looming, players are trying to avoid injuries before the main event begins. A view of the FIFA World Cup 2026 signage was seen at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles recently.
Players ruled out of the World Cup include:
- Argentina: Joaquín Panichelli (ACL)
- Brazil: Éder Militão (hamstring), Rodrygo (ACL)
- England: Ben White (medial ligament)
- France: Hugo Ekitike (Achilles)
- Germany: Serge Gnabry (adductor)
- Netherlands: Xavi Simons (ACL)
- United States: Cameron Carter-Vickers (Achilles), Patrick Agyemang (Achilles)
The situation is critical for many athletes, with several notable injuries still pending resolution:
- Algeria: Goalkeeper Luca Zidane, the son of France’s Zinedine Zidane, is in uncertain condition due to a facial injury from a collision last month.
- Argentina: Cristian Romero has knee issues, with no confirmed timeline from Tottenham regarding his recovery.
- Canada: Alphonso Davies is recovering from a hamstring injury incurred during Bayern Munich’s Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain.
- Croatia: Luka Modrić returned after a cheekbone fracture, and Joško Gvardiol resumed training post a four-month leg injury hiatus.
- Morocco: Achraf Hakimi of Paris Saint-Germain is sidelined due to a right thigh injury.
- United States: Johnny Cardoso is dealing with a sprained right ankle, and Chris Richards faced an ankle ligament tear.
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