The French national football team has been dealt a massive blow ahead of the 2026 World Cup, as head coach Didier Deschamps officially confirmed that Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike will miss the remainder of the season and the upcoming tournament in North America.

The 23-year-old forward suffered a severe injury during Liverpool’s Champions League quarter-final clash against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night, which has now been diagnosed as a suspected Achilles tendon rupture

The incident occurred in the 27th minute at Anfield when Ekitike went down clutching his leg with no other player in his immediate vicinity a classic sign of a serious tendon injury. He was visibly distraught as he was carried off the field on a stretcher, replaced by Mohamed Salah. While Liverpool fans held their breath for a more positive scan result on Wednesday, Deschamps’ somber statement released via the French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed their worst fears.

“Hugo suffered a serious injury against PSG. The severity of this injury will unfortunately prevent him from finishing the season with Liverpool and from participating in the World Cup,” Deschamps stated.

“This injury is a huge blow for him and for the French national team. His disappointment is immense.”

Ekitike has been in sensational form this season, scoring 17 goals in all competitions for Liverpool since his £69 million move from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer. His breakout year had made him a focal point of Deschamps’ plans for the summer, especially after he netted goals for Les Bleus in recent fixtures against Brazil and Ukraine. His absence leaves a significant void in the French attack, where he was widely considered the primary understudy to Kylian Mbappé.

The recovery time for a ruptured Achilles typically spans six to nine months, meaning Ekitike may not only miss the World Cup but could also be sidelined for the start of the 2026/27 Premier League season. For Liverpool manager Arne Slot, the loss is equally devastating, as the club enters the final stretch of the season fighting for a top-four finish without their leading marksman.