France striker Hugo Ekitike will miss the FIFA World Cup 2026™ after sustaining a ruptured Achilles tendon in Liverpool’s UEFA Champions League game against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.
The official verdict was announced by the Premier League side on Thursday, with Liverpool confirming Ekitike will be sidelined for the remaining weeks of the club season and the upcoming global finals.
Beyond the personal disappointment for the 23-year-old, this is also a “huge blow for Les Bleus”, in the words of Didier Deschamps. In a message posted on the French national team’s social media, the coach offered his full support to the striker, highlighting Ekitike’s successful integration since his first call-up in September 2025.
“Hugo is one of around ten young players who have made their international debuts in recent months,” said the France boss. “He had settled in perfectly with the squad, both on and off the pitch. He is deeply disappointed. I am convinced that Hugo will get back to his best. But I wanted to express my full support for him, as well as that of the entire coaching staff. We know he will be right behind the French team, and we are all thinking of him very much.”
At the start of the 2025/26 season, Ekitike was slightly behind in the France pecking order and desperately needed to have a standout campaign to make the World Cup squad.
Ekitike, however, rose to the challenge looked well on his way to being selected for the trip to North America. He signed for Liverpool in July 2025 from Eintracht Frankfurt and quickly established himself as a key member of Arne Slot’s team. He had scored 17 goals and provided six assists for the Reds across all competitions before his injury.
His positive momentum had also carried over into his international career. Having scored his first international goal in November’s 4-0 win over Ukraine, he found the net again in a 2-1 defeat to Brazil last month. He also showed promising chemistry with his fellow attackers, notably captain Kylian Mbappe.
Ekitike’s unique profile – he is mobile, technically gifted and boasts excellent movement – offered Deschamps a potent weapon up front. In his absence, the France coach will have to rethink his attacking plans. While there is no shortage of options, with players such as Mbappe, Michael Olise, Rayan Cherki, Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue at his disposal, the question of who fulfils Les Bleus’ centre-forward position remains.
France will kick off their World Cup campaign on 16 June against Senegal, before facing Iraq on 22 June concluding their Group I fixtures against Norway four days later.
