Hugo Ekitike could be sidelined for up to nine months, keeping him out until 2027, following an injury he picked up against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday evening. A medical expert has also claimed there is "a 90 per cent chance" the Liverpool striker has ruptured his Achilles tendon.
The 23-year-old collapsed without any contact after appearing to slip during the Reds' Champions League quarter-final second leg against PSG, which the reigning French and European champions won 4-0 on aggregate.
Ekitike was unable to regain his footing despite attempting to do so with the assistance of PSG defender Marquinhos and was subsequently stretchered off by medical staff.
Concerns that the French striker faces a prolonged absence are mounting, representing a significant setback for both club and player, with Ekitike now looking increasingly unlikely to feature at the World Cup.
Speaking to French publication L'Equipe, Dr. Nicolas Baudrier has offered his assessment of the injury Ekitike sustained. Based on footage of the incident, he believes Ekitike has ruptured his Achilles and that his prospects of representing France at the World Cup "are over."
He said: "If it's indeed what we suspect, namely an Achilles tendon injury, it doesn't happen during contact with an opponent. It's either a change of direction or during a jump.
"The player describes it as a 'bolt from the blue,' as if he were being tackled. We saw it with Ekitike, who looked behind him to see if he'd been hit.
"He felt like he'd been tackled, but there was no one behind him. This really points to an Achilles tendon injury."
He added: "Partial ruptures are practically unheard of. When there's a rupture, it's complete. Judging by the images, it can't be much else. He got up twice, but he couldn't walk. I objectively think he has a ruptured Achilles tendon.
"Based on the images, I'd say there's a 90% chance it's a ruptured Achilles tendon. He'll need surgery.
"In the best-case scenario for a professional player, surgery means nine months to get back on the field. If it is indeed a ruptured Achilles tendon, then the World Cup is over for him."
L'Equipe and ESPN are also reporting that the Frenchman ruptured his Achilles and could be out for up to nine months, meaning he won't be fit again until January 2027. However, Liverpool have not issued any fresh updates, with the forward set to undergo scans today.
Arne Slot conceded following Tuesday evening's match that the outlook on Ekitike's injury was serious, telling Amazon Prime: "[It's] not too good, we could all see that he didn't look well and didn't look right. We can all see it didn't look good.
"In the second-half he went home and I didn't see him. Again as it seems, losing a player is something we've had a lot this season. It's very hard for him because you never want to be injured at this time of the season."
