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Belgium have been dealt a significant blow ahead of their FIFA World Cup quarter-final after midfielder Amadou Onana was ruled out of the remainder of the tournament with a serious knee injury.
The 24-year-old Aston Villa star sustained a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee during Belgium’s emphatic 4-1 victory over co-hosts the United States in their Round of 16 clash on Monday.
Onana was forced off early in the encounter in Seattle, raising immediate concerns about the severity of the injury. Medical examinations later confirmed the worst, ending his World Cup campaign.
Confirming the development on Tuesday, the Belgian Football Federation said the midfielder had suffered a complete ACL rupture.
Belgium team doctor Brahim Hacene described the diagnosis as a devastating setback for both the player and the national team.
“Unfortunately, medical examinations have confirmed that Amadou has suffered a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament. This is devastating news, both for him personally and for the team,” Hacene said.
He added that Belgium’s medical staff had already begun consultations with Aston Villa to determine the most appropriate treatment and rehabilitation plan.
“We immediately consulted with Amadou and Aston Villa to agree on the best approach to his recovery. Over the coming days, we will jointly determine the next steps in his medical treatment and rehabilitation,” he said.
Despite being ruled out of the competition, Onana will remain with the Belgian squad in North America until at least after their quarter-final fixture as he continues to receive support from teammates and medical staff.
Belgium will now have to prepare for Friday’s heavyweight quarter-final against Spain in Los Angeles without one of their key midfielders, as they continue their quest for a first FIFA World Cup title.
