With only five weeks left before the FIFA World Cup kicks off in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, injuries to some of the game’s biggest stars are increasing ahead of football’s biggest event.
Kylian Mbappé is sidelined with a hamstring injury, while Lamine Yamal is out until the end of the season, as is Brazilian forward Estêvão.
There had also been concern after Mohamed Salah recently picked up a hamstring injury.
Mbappé is expected to return for Real Madrid later this month, and there are no signs that the injury will keep him out of the World Cup, but any setback for France’s best player would raise alarm for the national team.
Barcelona’s young star Yamal, who is recovering from a calf muscle injury, is also expected to be in Spain’s squad for his first World Cup.
Concerns over Salah’s injury have now eased.
Others have not been as fortunate.
France striker Hugo Ekitike suffered an Achilles tendon injury in April, which could keep him out for more than six months while he recovers fully, ruling him out of the World Cup and possibly the start of next season as well.
Brazilian pair Rodrygo and Éder Militão have also been ruled out, and the same applies to Bayern Munich and Germany forward Serge Gnabry, who suffered an adductor injury in training.
At the same time, the absence of Rodri, Manchester City and Spain midfielder, because of a thigh injury, is also causing concern, especially after he missed most of last season with an ACL injury. However, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola recently gave positive updates on his recovery, and he is expected to return this season.
Players and coaches have repeatedly warned about the strain caused by the increasingly crowded match calendar, with the expanded World Cup coming just one year after the launch of the enlarged Club World Cup, while the Champions League has also expanded in recent years.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has described the physical pressure on players as “an accident waiting to happen.”
