Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike will miss the rest of the season and the World Cup after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon, the club confirmed on Thursday.
The 23-year-old was taken off in the first half of Liverpool’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield on Tuesday after slipping on the pitch. Liverpool lost 2–0 and were knocked out 4–0 on aggregate.
Scans later confirmed the seriousness of the injury, and the club said he will be out for the remaining weeks of the season.
The injury also means he will miss this year’s World Cup, after France manager Didier Deschamps confirmed he would not be available.
Liverpool said Ekitike will receive full support from the club during his recovery.
Ekitike joined Liverpool from Eintracht Frankfurt in July and has been their top scorer this season with 17 goals in all competitions, including 11 in the Premier League. He has also scored two goals in eight appearances for France.
In a message on social media, Ekitike said it was a difficult moment but thanked fans for their support. He added that their encouragement would help him come back stronger.
