JAKARTA - Hugo Ekitike caused a major injury concern for Liverpool and the French National Team (National Team) after he was forced off the field in the first half of the Reds' defeat in the Champions League quarter-finals against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, early morning WIB.
The French striker appeared to suffer a right ankle injury when he slipped in the 27th minute of the second leg at Anfield.
"It doesn't look good. It looks very bad, but it's hard for me to say how bad it is," said Liverpool manager Arne Slot, after a 0-2 defeat that sealed a 4-0 aggregate win for PSG.
After further examination, Ekitike will be out for a long time, including missing the 2026 World Cup with France. Ekitike is said to have suffered an Achilles tendon rupture and will be out for at least nine months.
"Unfortunately, the severity of the injury (Ekitike) will prevent him from completing the season with Liverpool and participating in the 2026 World Cup."
"This injury is of course a big blow for him, but also for the French national team. I want to express my full support for him, as well as the support of the entire coaching staff," said France National Team Manager Didier Deschamps, in a statement from the FFF.
According to ESPN reports, Ekitike said he heard his Achilles tendon rupture before falling to the ground in pain in the match against PSG.
The scan was carried out after the match to find out if the tear was full or partial. The recovery time for a ruptured Achilles tendon is between nine and 12 months.
Liverpool have not confirmed the information, but the French player's injury is a big blow to the Reds in their last attempt to finish in the top five in the English League to return to the Champions League next season.
For the French national team, the 23-year-old is projected to play in the 2026 World Cup. Finally, he scored for Les Bleus in a 2-1 win against Brazil in a friendly match.
Meanwhile, after receiving treatment on the pitch, it was quickly determined that Ekitike could not continue the match and was taken off the field on a stretcher. He was replaced by Mohamed Salah.
Salah again started the match from the bench, as he did in the first leg last week.
Alexander Isak was included in Liverpool's starting lineup for the first time in four months. However, Arne Slot stated that Ekitike's injury meant that the day may be the last time this season he can field his main attacking lineup.
"For 88 minutes (before) tonight (against PSG), we played with Florian (Wirtz), Alex, and Hugo. We added about 27 more minutes tonight."
"I would be surprised if we add more minutes this season. The good news is that Alex is back," said Arne Slot.
Liverpool failed to make a comeback after losing 2-0 in the first leg in Paris last week. They even conceded two more goals from Ousmane Dembele which PSG reached the semifinals.
"I think it's bad. I don't know, I've heard a lot of things. I don't have words to talk about it because with the 2026 World Cup coming up, it's very, very difficult for him and I send my prayers to him," said Ekitike's teammate at Liverpool and France, Ibrahima Konate, to Amazon Prime.
Ekitike has become one of Liverpool's top players this season and has scored 19 goals for club and country. He arrived on Merseyside last summer and immediately made an impact with 17 goals and six assists in all competitions in his first season at Anfield.
The Reds have already worked on plans for his surgery and then his rehabilitation process.
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