Hugo Ekitiké has been ruled out of the upcoming FIFA World Cup after suffering a serious injury during a UEFA Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain.
The 23-year-old striker sustained a ruptured Achilles tendon on April 14, 2026, and was stretchered off in tears after just 22 minutes. The injury will sideline him for an estimated 9–12 months, ruling him out for the remainder of the 2025–26 season with Liverpool and the international tournament. His return is tentatively expected around January 2027.
France national team head coach Didier Deschamps expressed his support for the young forward in an emotional statement:
“Hugo suffered a serious injury on Tuesday evening against PSG. The severity of his injury will unfortunately prevent him from finishing the season with Liverpool and participating in the World Cup.
Hugo is one of the dozen young players who have made their debuts with the national team in recent months. He had perfectly integrated into the group, both on the pitch and off it. This injury is a huge blow for him, of course, but also for the France team.
His disappointment is immense. Hugo will regain his top form, I’m convinced of it. But I wanted to express all my support to him, as well as that of the entire staff. We know he’ll be fully behind the France team, and we’re all thinking of him very strongly.”
Ekitiké’s absence represents a significant setback for France as they prepare for the World Cup, with the forward having recently established himself as one of the promising new additions to the national squad.