As the 2026 World Cup draws closer, the injury news update for the tournament has been particularly concerning. Here is a summary of some key injuries and player status:
* Brazil's Neymar Jr. suffered a serious knee injury in the final of the Copa America Centenario last year. He underwent surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee.
* Argentina's Lionel Messi suffered a torn ACL in the quarterfinals of the 2018 World Cup. He underwent surgery in December 2018 and is expected to be out for at least six months.
* Germany's Thomas Muller suffered a broken ankle during the UEFA Nations League match against England in September 2019. He underwent surgery in November 2019 and is currently recovering from his injury.
* France's Antoine Griezmann suffered a fractured right fibula in the second half of the Euro 2019 Final against Portugal. He underwent surgery in February 2019 and is currently recovering from his injury.
In addition to these high-profile injuries, there have also been several other notable injuries throughout the world cup qualification process. For example, Mexico's Javier Hernandez broke his leg in a friendly match against Costa Rica in July 2019, while Colombia's James Rodriguez suffered a knee injury in the CONMEBOL Confederations Cup semifinals.
Overall, the injury news for the 2026 World Cup is not looking good, with many top players facing long recoveries and potentially missing important matches. However, it remains to be seen how the teams will cope with these challenges and whether they can still compete at the highest level come the tournament.