Hugo Ekitike Out of 2026 World Cup After Achilles Injury in Liverpool’s Champions League Loss to PSG

Hugo Ekitike’s World Cup is over after the Frenchman ruptured his Achilles tendon in Liverpool’s Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night, reports ESPN.

The summer signing was forced off in the first half of Tuesday’s 2-0 loss to the defending European champions, as the Reds crashed out of the competition 4-0 on aggregate.

And a miserable evening was compounded by Ekitike’s injury with the striker stretchered off in tears with just 22 minutes on the clock at Anfield in midweek.

Achilles injury a blow for France and Liverpool

The timescale for an Achilles tendon rupture is between nine and 12 months, meaning Ekitike will play no part for France at the 2026 World Cup.

Didier Deschamps’ side are one of the pre-tournament favourites to go the distance in North America later this year.

However, the 23-year-old’s absence hinders France’s chances of replicating their 2018 triumph in Russia.

'Looks really bad'

After the game, Reds head coach Arne Slot said: "Hugo looks really bad but it is difficult to say how bad.

"Let's see. It doesn't look good, that is clear. I didn't see him at half-time and after the game he was already home. I have not spoken to him yet."

Centre-back and compatriot Ibrahima Konate added: "I think it is bad. I don't know, I have heard many things, I have no word to talk about that because with the World Cup coming it is very, very hard for him and I send him my prayers."

Ekitike has made an impressive impact since signing from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer, netting 11 goals and laying on an additional four assists for the defending Premier League champions.

Liverpool looking to bounce back from PSG loss

Defeat to PSG, meanwhile, means Liverpool have lost four of their last five matches in all competition.

Next up for Liverpool is the Merseyside Derby as the Reds travel to the Hill Dickinson Stadium for the first time on Sunday afternoon.