Liverpool and France have suffered a major blow after star striker Hugo Ekitike sustained a serious Achilles tendon injury during the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night.
The 23-year-old French forward was stretchered off in tears at Anfield after going down clutching his right Achilles in a non-contact incident around the 27-30th minute. He was replaced by Mohamed Salah as Liverpool exited the competition.
Confirmed: Season Over and World Cup Dream Shattered
According to French sports daily L’Equipe and other reports, Ekitike has ruptured his right Achilles tendon. As per the report, sources close to the player indicate he is expected to be sidelined for 8-9 months, with some medical estimates suggesting up to 9-12 months for a full recovery from this type of injury.
This timeline means:
- Season over for the 2025-26 campaign with Liverpool.
- Out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the summer, a devastating setback for both the player and the France national team, where he was expected to feature prominently.
Ekitike pointed immediately to his Achilles when he went down, and the injury occurred while he was sprinting without any opponent involvement — a classic mechanism for an Achilles rupture.