Injuries to some of football's biggest stars, including Argentina's Lionel Messi, France's Kylian Mbappe, and Spain's promising youngster Lamine Yamal, have raised concerns ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. All three players have been called up to their national teams for the tournament, which kicks off next week in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, but others have been less fortunate.

French striker Hugo Ekiteke suffered an Achilles tendon injury last April while playing for his English club, Liverpool. The injury could sideline him for more than six months, ruling him out of the World Cup and potentially the start of next season with his club.