Hugo Ekitike's World Cup dream has been shattered. The 23-year-old Liverpool striker suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon during the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain on April 14. This injury ends his season and prevents him from participating in the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The French international was injured late in the match at Anfield Road, leaving the field on a stretcher. Examinations confirmed the Achilles tendon rupture, requiring a lengthy recovery period estimated at several months.
France's coach Didier Deschamps expressed his disappointment at the news. "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 and off the pitch. This injury is a blow for him, of course, but also for the France team," he said.
To replace Ekitike, Deschamps will have to choose between Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and Randal Kolo Muani, currently on loan from Paris Saint-Germain to Tottenham. Mateta, 28, has 3 caps for the French national team. Kolo Muani, 27, has already played in the 2022 World Cup and has 32 caps with Les Bleus.
Hugo Ekitike, who has Cameroonian heritage, joined the French national team in August 2025, earning his first cap. He has 2 goals in 8 appearances. His absence from the World Cup is a blow for the French team, but also for the player whose dreams of participating in the competition have vanished.
Ekitike was Liverpool's top scorer this season with 17 goals.
