Injuries to some of football's star players, including Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal, sparked concern ahead of the World Cup.All three have been included in their national team squads for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, but others have not been so fortunate.
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi walks to the corner of the field to take a corner kick during the second half of an MLS soccer match against Philadelphia Union, on May 24, in Miami.
Injuries to some of football's star players, including Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal, sparked concern ahead of the World Cup. All three have been included in their national team squads for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, but 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 World Cup and probably the start of next season with Liverpool. Brazil stars Rodrygo and Eder Militao are out. So is Bayern Munich and Germany forward Serge Gnabry after injuring his adductor in training. Messi caused the biggest scare after the Argentina great left the field injured while playing for Inter Miami last month.
He has been included in coach Lionel Scaloni's squad as defending champion Argentina aims to retain its trophy, but it is still not known whether he has fully recovered from what was described as muscle fatigue. Yamal, Spain's new superstar, missed the final weeks of the season for Barcelona because of a hamstring injury that made him fear he would miss out on his first World Cup.
"I remember the play in which I got injured," he said. "I was praying inside for it not to be serious, for it to be a cramp or something like that, because I knew the World Cup was very close. " 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.
Ones to watch Argentina: How soon Messi will be involved is not known. Cristian Romero sustained a knee injury at the end of the season, but has been included in Argentina's squad. Canada: Star left back Alphonso Davies injured his hamstring and it is not certain he will recover in time for his team's opening game against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Croatia: Veteran midfielder Luka Modric broke his cheekbone in April.
He was back playing for AC Milan well in time for the World Cup, but was wearing a protective face mask. Defender Josko Gvardiol returned to training for Manchester City in early May after four months out with a broken leg, but is going to the World Cup. United States: Gio Reyna made just four league starts this season for Borussia Mnnchengladbach, and none since Dec 19.
"He can help because he's a different player, different talent, and I think in all the roster you need to have a player like him," US coach Mauricio Pochettino said.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
'Well done and keep going,' PM Wong praises Loh Kean Yew after 2nd place finish at Singapore OpenThough Loh Kean Yew missed out on the gold, he received praise and encouragement from Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and President Tharman.
Read more »
Mediacorp to air 28 free 2026 FIFA World Cup matches live in SingaporeMediacorp announced that 28 group-stage games, including matches featuring defending champions Argentina, Brazil, England, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain, will be broadcast free live on Channel 5 and mewatch. The free-to-air lineup also includes the opening match, two semi-finals, third-place playoff and final. This is a significant expansion from the nine free matches in 2022. Highlights will be available on mewatch and Mediacorp Sports on YouTube and TikTok. Subscriptions are also available through Singtel and StarHub.
Read more »
Ebola Outbreak in Eastern DRC Shows Signs of Progress Amid Ongoing ChallengesDespite a decline in suspected Ebola cases and the reopening of a key airport, contact tracing in Ituri province remains critically low. The World Health Organization reports a drop from over 900 to 116 suspected cases, while the World Food Programme emphasizes the importance of food assistance in the response. The outbreak spans 24 health zones, highlighting the need for sustained international support and improved surveillance.
Read more »
Mexico protesters storm government building days before World CupMexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has called for dialogue with the protesting teachers, who are demanding a salary increase and the repeal of a pension law.
Read more »
Singapore Sports Retailers Face Supply Chain Challenges Amid 2026 FIFA World Cup DemandWith the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, sports retailers in Singapore are grappling with supply chain disruptions and the tournament's expansion from 32 to 48 teams. Logistical issues, factory delays, and geopolitical factors complicate the sourcing of jerseys and merchandise, especially for certain national teams like Iran. Retailers such as Weston Corporation and Crown Sports are racing against time to stock shelves, with fan interest extending beyond jerseys to collectible cards and sticker albums.
Read more »