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05/25 06:40 CDT Messi joins high-profile World Cup injury concerns just weeks
before big kickoff
Messi joins high-profile World Cup injury concerns just weeks before big kickoff
By JAMES ROBSON
AP Soccer Writer
Injuries to some of soccer's star players are mounting ahead of next month's
World Cup, with Lionel Messi joining a list of concerns that already included
Lamine Yamal.
Kylian Mbapp and Mohamed Salah have recovered from injuries ahead of the
tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Now the focus will switch to Messi, the Argentina great who left the field
after reaching toward his left hamstring in a game for Inter Miami in Major
League Soccer on Sunday.
Yamal, Spain's new superstar, missed the final weeks of the season for
Barcelona because of a muscle injury in his left leg but should be healed in
time to play at the World Cup.
Others have not been so fortunate.
France striker Hugo Ekitike sustained an Achilles injury in April that could
take more than six months to heal, ruling him out of the tournament and
probably the start of next season with Liverpool.
Brazil stars Rodrygo and der Militao are definitely out. So is Bayern Munich
and Germany forward Serge Gnabry after injuring his adductor in training.
Players and coaches have increasingly warned about the impact of an ever-packed
schedule, and the expanded World Cup comes a year after the relaunched,
supersized Club World Cup. The Champions League has also been expanded in
recent years.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta describes the demand on players as "an accident
waiting to happen."
With the World Cup just around the corner, players are walking a tightrope to
avoid injury before the tournament kicks off.
Players definitely ruled out of the World Cup Argentina: Joaqun Panichelli (ACL) Brazil: der Militao (hamstring), Rodrygo (ACL) England: Ben White (medial ligament) France: Hugo Ekitike (Achilles) Germany: Serge Gnabry (adductor) Netherlands: Xavi Simons (ACL) United States: Cameron Carter-Vickers (Achilles), Patrick Agyemang (Achilles)
Ones to watch Algeria: Goalkeeper Luca Zidane, son of France icon Zinedine Zidane, is a doubt after suffering a facial injury during an on-field collision last month. Argentina: Cristian Romero has a knee injury. It has not yet been confirmed if he is out of the World Cup, with Tottenham not giving a timeframe for his recovery. Canada: Star left back Alphonso Davies injured his hamstring with just over a month to go before the tournament starts, after he was hurt during Bayern Munich's defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semifinals. Croatia: Veteran midfielder Luka Modric broke his cheekbone last month but was back playing for AC Milan well in time for the World Cup. Defender Josko Gvardiol returned to training for Manchester City in early May after four months out with a broken leg. Morocco: Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi has been sidelined with a right thigh injury. United States: Midfielder Johnny Cardoso sprained his right ankle five weeks before the World Cup while training with Atletico Madrid. Center back Chris Richards tore ligaments in his ankle playing for Crystal Palace. ___ James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Players definitely ruled out of the World Cup Argentina: Joaqun Panichelli (ACL) Brazil: der Militao (hamstring), Rodrygo (ACL) England: Ben White (medial ligament) France: Hugo Ekitike (Achilles) Germany: Serge Gnabry (adductor) Netherlands: Xavi Simons (ACL) United States: Cameron Carter-Vickers (Achilles), Patrick Agyemang (Achilles)
Ones to watch Algeria: Goalkeeper Luca Zidane, son of France icon Zinedine Zidane, is a doubt after suffering a facial injury during an on-field collision last month. Argentina: Cristian Romero has a knee injury. It has not yet been confirmed if he is out of the World Cup, with Tottenham not giving a timeframe for his recovery. Canada: Star left back Alphonso Davies injured his hamstring with just over a month to go before the tournament starts, after he was hurt during Bayern Munich's defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semifinals. Croatia: Veteran midfielder Luka Modric broke his cheekbone last month but was back playing for AC Milan well in time for the World Cup. Defender Josko Gvardiol returned to training for Manchester City in early May after four months out with a broken leg. Morocco: Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi has been sidelined with a right thigh injury. United States: Midfielder Johnny Cardoso sprained his right ankle five weeks before the World Cup while training with Atletico Madrid. Center back Chris Richards tore ligaments in his ankle playing for Crystal Palace. ___ James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
