Ekitike ruled out for season and World Cup with Achilles rupture
Ekitike was stretchered off during the first half of Liverpool's Champions League quarter-final against Paris St-Germain
France striker Hugo Ekitike will miss this summer's World Cup after rupturing his Achilles tendon during Liverpool's Champions League defeat to Paris St-Germain on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old was carried off on a stretcher at Anfield after slipping during the first half. Liverpool confirmed the injury will keep him out for the remainder of the season and could sideline him into the start of the next campaign.
"It's hard, maybe even unfair... but I'm grateful this is happening to me here, among you. I'm not alone," Ekitike wrote in a message to Liverpool supporters on social media.
"Your strength and your love will be my driving force. See you again soon, Anfield."
Scans conducted on Wednesday confirmed the severity of the injury.
In a statement released Thursday, Liverpool declined to provide a specific recovery timeline.
"Scans on the issue have subsequently confirmed a rupture of the Achilles tendon," the club said.
"Ekitike will therefore be sidelined for the remaining weeks of the club season and unable to participate at this summer's World Cup with France.
"Further updates will be provided at the appropriate time."
France manager Didier Deschamps confirmed Wednesday evening through the French Football Federation that Ekitike would miss the tournament in the US, Mexico and Canada.
"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," Deschamps said.
"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."
Ekitike joined Liverpool from Eintracht Frankfurt last July and emerged as one of the club's brightest performers during a challenging season, contributing 17 goals and six assists across all competitions.
Speaking after the quarter-final second-leg defeat to PSG, head coach Arne Slot said: "I think we could all see that it didn't look well and didn't look good.
"It's especially very hard for him because you never want to be injured, especially not at this moment of time in the season."
In January, Ekitike became only the second player after club legend Kenny Dalglish to score in five different competitions during their debut season with Liverpool.
He earned his first France cap last September and was expected to feature in Deschamps' World Cup squad.
Liverpool have endured multiple injury setbacks this season. Teenage centre-back Giovanni Leoni and full-back Conor Bradley are both out for the remainder of the campaign, while goalkeeper Alisson Becker and midfielder Wataru Endo remain unavailable. Sweden striker Alexander Isak only returned this month after suffering an ankle injury in December.
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Devastating setback for France and Liverpool
The severity of this injury cannot be overstated for France. Ekitike was poised to claim a starting role on the left flank at the World Cup, slotting into Deschamps' preferred 4-2-3-1 formation alongside Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele in an electrifying attacking quartet.
Deschamps rarely comments publicly on player injuries, which makes the French federation's official statement all the more telling. The gravity of the situation is unmistakable.
The critical question now is whether the Achilles injury is a partial or complete rupture. That distinction will determine whether Ekitike faces six months on the sidelines or a far grimmer nine to twelve months of rehabilitation.
The timing is particularly cruel. Ekitike had been in scintillating form, making an immediate impact for France during the recent international window in the United States. His goal in the 2-1 victory over Brazil showcased exactly why Deschamps had such faith in him, and his substitute appearance against Colombia further underlined his value to the squad.
For France, this is a significant tactical blow. For Ekitike personally, the implications are even more sobering—depending on the diagnosis, he may not return to competitive action until 2027.
Liverpool face an equally difficult situation. The injury jeopardizes not only their push to secure a top-five Premier League finish this season but also raises thorny questions about squad planning for next term.
Should the club invest in another forward this summer, they risk creating a logjam when Ekitike eventually returns. Yet if the injury proves to be a full rupture requiring nine months or more of recovery, Liverpool may have little choice but to strengthen their attacking options ahead of the new campaign.