The nightmare has become a reality for Hugo Ekitike and the French national team: the Liverpool forward is out of the 2024 World Cup due to a serious injury sustained during the match against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. The news was officially confirmed by French coach Didier Deschamps, who did not hold back in describing the devastating impact of this loss for the team and for the young talent.
On the fateful night of Tuesday, during the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals at the iconic Anfield, Ekitike, just 23 years old, fell injured in the 31st minute of the first half. The forward, who was signed by Liverpool last summer for an impressive £69 million from Eintracht Frankfurt, suffered an ankle injury that, according to Deschamps, will bring an end to his season and any chance of representing France on the biggest stage in world football.
In a statement published on the official account of the French national team on X, the coach did not hide his sadness over the incident: “Hugo suffered a serious injury on Tuesday night against PSG. The severity of his injury will unfortunately prevent him from finishing the season with Liverpool and participating in the World Cup. Hugo is one of about 10 young players who have recently debuted for the national team. He has integrated perfectly into the group, both on and off the pitch. This injury is a huge blow for him, but also for the French national team.”
Deschamps also highlighted the player’s immense disappointment and assured him of full support: “His frustration is immense. I am sure Hugo will regain his best form. I want to express my full support for him, as well as that of the entire coaching staff. We know he will be completely committed to the national team, and we are all thinking of him.”
The severity of the issue has already been acknowledged by Liverpool’s coach, Arne Slot, who stated after the match: “Hugo looks really bad, but it’s difficult for me to say how serious it is. Tomorrow we will do more tests to see what is really going on. We will see, but it doesn’t look good at all.”
This harsh blow comes at a crucial time for France, which is preparing to kick off its campaign in Group I of the World Cup in June. Didier Deschamps’ team will face Senegal in New Jersey on June 16, followed by matches against Iraq in Philadelphia and Norway in Boston.
The absence of Hugo Ekitike leaves a huge void in the French attack, which will have to find emerging solutions to compensate for the loss of the young prodigy, who was expected to be one of the stars of the tournament. His injury is not only a loss for Liverpool but also a severe setback for the French national team, which now sees one of its most promising talents sidelined from the fight for the world title. Ekitike’s drama is also a warning about the high physical and emotional cost that elite football imposes on its protagonists.
This article first appeared on [Apito Final](https://apitofinal.pt/).
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