Blow for France: Hugo Ekitike broke his Achilles tendon and will miss the World Cup

The French national team received some of the worst news: Hugo Ekitike suffered a torn right Achilles tendon and will not be able to compete in the 2026 World Cup. According to French media, the attacker will have to undergo surgery and face a recovery process that will take between eight and nine months. Some projections even indicate that his return could last until 2027, depending on his evolution.

The injury occurred during the game between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain for the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. 30 minutes into the first half, the striker collapsed alone on the court and had to leave the field on a stretcher and in tears, which quickly set off

the alarms.

Although there are still additional studies to determine if the fracture is partial or complete, specialists agree that this type of injury requires prolonged rehabilitation and

progressive adjustment before returning to competition.

The loss represents a major blow for Didier Deschamps, who had been giving more and more prominence to the 23-year-old forward. Ekitike had been called up for the senior team in 2025 and had already scored his first international goal in November, consolidating himself as a growing alternative

within the attack.

Faced with this scenario, Randal Kolo Muani appears as the main candidate to take his place, while other names such as Christopher Nkunku and Jean-Philippe Mateta are also gaining ground in the consideration of the coaching staff for the list for the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

In this way, France loses one of its promising young players for the World Cup, at a key moment in the preparation for the tournament.