Belgium midfielder Amadou Onana has been ruled out of the remainder of the World Cup after scans confirmed a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, the Belgian Football Federation announced.
The 24-year-old Aston Villa player sustained the injury early in Belgium’s 4-1 last-16 victory over co-hosts the United States in Seattle on Monday, forcing him to leave the pitch prematurely.
“Unfortunately, the medical examinations have confirmed that Amadou has suffered a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament. This is devastating news, both for him personally and for the team,” said Belgium team doctor Brahim Hacene in an official statement.
The federation added that they have already consulted with Onana and his club, Aston Villa, to coordinate his recovery plan. “Over the coming days, we will jointly determine the next steps in his medical treatment and rehabilitation,” the statement read.
Despite the severity of the injury, Onana will remain with the Belgian squad in North America at least until their quarter-final clash against Spain on Friday in Los Angeles, the federation confirmed.
His absence represents a significant blow to Belgium’s hopes of progressing further in the tournament, with the midfielder having been a key figure in Domenico Tedesco’s starting lineup throughout the competition.
