Ekitike rues ´unfair´ Achilles injury after World Cup dream dashed

Hugo Ekitike described his Achilles tendon rupture as “unfair” after the Liverpool and France forward saw his World Cup dream dashed.

The France Football Federation confirmed on Wednesday that Ekitike would miss this summer’s tournament in North America, after sustaining a serious injury in Tuesday’s 2-0 Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

Ekitike looked distraught as he fell to the ground without any other players in the vicinity during the first half at Anfield, having to be carried from the pitch on a stretcher.

Liverpool subsequently confirmed the 23-year-old had ruptured his Achilles tendon, with reports suggesting he will spend at least nine months on the sidelines.

Alongside a photo of himself sitting on the Anfield turf, Ekitike wrote on X: “It’s hard, maybe even unfair…

“But I’m grateful this is happening to me here, among you. I’m not alone. Your strength and your love will be my driving force. See you again soon, Anfield.”

It’s hard, maybe even unfair… but I’m grateful this is happening to me here, among you. I’m not alone. Your strength and your love will be my driving force. See you again soon, Anfield pic.twitter.com/uV3c6PREAv

— Heki (@hekitike9) April 16, 2026

Ekitike has scored 17 goals and managed six assists in all competitions in his first season with Liverpool.

His absence for the remainder of the season will be a major blow to the Reds’ hopes of a top-five Premier League finish, though they did recently welcome Alexander Isak back after the Swede recovered from a leg fracture.