The injuries come as the World Cup has expanded to include 48 teams, meaning more matches during the 39-day tournament.
WASHINGTON — Injuries to some of soccer’s star players, including Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal, sparked concern ahead of the World Cup.
Months before the soccer tournament, stars like France’s Kylian Mbappe and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah were among those sidelined by high-profile injuries. Mbappe and Salah recovered and are expected to hit the pitch during the World Cup, hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico in June.
The focus then switched to World Cup winner Messi, who a week ahead of what will be his record sixth World Cup is recovering from a hamstring problem that led to his substitution during Inter Miami’s final match before the tournament on May 24.
Spain’s newest star, Lamine Yamal, was also on the worry list after he missed the final weeks of Barcelona matches due to a muscle injury in his left leg. He has been included in Spain’s final national roster.
Will Neymar be in the World Cup?
Brazilian star player Neymar was undergoing treatment in New Jersey for a calf injury, His team confirmed he was sidelined for two to three weeks and would not be traveling for an exhibition game against Egypt. Brazil’s opening game will be on June 13.
Picking Neymar for the 26-player roster was considered a risk because of his health. He is Brazil’s all-time leading goal scorer with 79 but has struggled since returning from tearing the ACL in his left knee in October 2023 in a World Cup qualifier.
“He can still improve his fitness until the first match of the World Cup,” coach Carlos Ancelotti said last month. “He has experience in this kind of competition, the love of our group, he can create a better environment in this group.”
FIFA rules allow an injured player to be replaced up to one day before a team’s first game at the tournament. If he plays, this would be Neymar’s fourth World Cup.
The injuries come as the World Cup has expanded to include 48 teams, meaning more matches and a packed schedule.
With the World Cup just around the corner, players are walking a tightrope to avoid injury before the tournament kicks off.
Will Messi be at the World Cup?
Messi is expected to heal before the World Cup.
The Argentina captain worked out on his own at the team’s base camp in Kansas City this week.
“I love playing football and I’m going to do it until I can’t anymore,” Messi told Argentine broadcast journalist Joaquín “Pollo” Álvarez in a YouTube interview. “I’m competitive, I like to win at everything, I don’t even let my kids win at video games sometimes. It’s just my nature and what led me to achieve everything I have.”
If he and Argentina manage to keep the World Cup trophy they won four years ago in Qatar, they will become the first team to win back-to-back titles since Brazil in 1962. It would also strengthen the claim of those who already call Messi the greatest player of all time.
But more than 20 years after playing for Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami, Messi’s body is showing signs of wear.
“We all would have liked Messi to arrive without any problems, but that’s not the case. Not only him, most of the players aren’t fully recovered yet,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni told DSports, a Latin American TV network.
Who won’t be at the World Cup?
France star striker Hugo Ekitike suffered an Achilles injury in April that might prevent him from playing in this year’s World Cup. Achilles heel injuries can take more than six months to heal and could probably rule him out of Liverpool’s next season’s start.
Brazil stars Rodrygo and Éder Militão are definitely out. So is Bayern Munich and Germany forward Serge Gnabry after injuring his adductor in training.
Injuries 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 Modrić 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 Joško 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 Mönchengladbach, 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,” U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said.
Brazil: Last week, the team doctor said that Neymar was expected to be sidelined two to three weeks because of a calf injury. Brazil’s opening game at the World Cup is June 13 against Morocco in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and it was not clear if Neymar would be ready to play in it.
Players definitely ruled out of the World Cup
Argentina: Joaquín Panichelli (ACL)
Brazil: Éder Militão (hamstring), Rodrygo (ACL)
England: Ben White (medial ligament)
France: Hugo Ekitike (Achilles)
Germany: Serge Gnabry (adductor)
Netherlands: Xavi Simons (ACL)
United States: Cameron Carter-Vickers (Achilles), Patrick Agyemang (Achilles), Johnny Cardoso (ankle)
Scotland: Billy Gilmour (knee)
Spain: Fermin Lopez (foot)
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