Liverpool confirm Hugo Ekitike out for season and World Cup after Achilles rupture vs PSG

Liverpool confirmed Thursday that French striker Hugo Ekitike will miss the remainder of the Premier League season and 2026 World Cup after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon in Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final second-leg loss to Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield. The 23-year-old was substituted in the first half after crumpling holding his lower right leg.

Ekitike has scored 17 goals in 45 matches for Liverpool since joining for a club-record £79 million ($105.5 million) from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer. He's also been a regular for France since his debut last September, with two goals and one assist in eight caps. France coach Didier Deschamps separately confirmed Ekitike's World Cup absence, calling it a 'huge blow' for player and team.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot noted the injury adds to their disastrous season, with the team sitting fifth in the Premier League and unlikely to win silverware. 'Losing a player is something we have had many times this season, but it is especially hard for him because you never want to be injured, especially at this time of the season,' Slot said.

For Nigerian football fans following global stars, how do you think such high-profile injuries affect your enjoyment of tournaments like the World Cup, and what precautions should local leagues take to protect their own players?

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/04/16/liverpool-confirm-ekitike-out-for-season-will-miss-world-cup/