Hugo Ekitike’s Achilles rupture and footballers who endured the same injury | OneFootball

Hugo Ekitike ruptured his Achilles for Liverpool against PSG on Tuesday, the 1-2 defeat ends his season and dashes his World Cup hopes.

According to L'Équipe, such injuries bring long layoffs, at least six months and usually nine to 12, with reconditioning and a risk of after-effects or relapse.

Recent French cases underline the challenge. Presnel Kimpembe, injured in 2023, spent almost two years out and, now at Qatar SC, has played 16 matches. Earlier, Florian Maurice missed seven months in 1996, while Sidney Govou returned in four months in 2009.

Leonardo Spinazzola lit up Euro 2021 before rupturing against Belgium, then missed nearly 10 months and returned quietly at Roma. Bradley Locko, surging after Brest’s historic season and France’s 2024 Olympic silver, was hurt on an innocuous training step and sidelined for more than eight months.

Others fared better. David Beckham returned in six months in 2010 after smooth rehabilitation. Thomas Lemar suffered the same injury with Atlético de Madrid two and a half years ago and was out for nearly eight months.

Santi Cazorla, injured in 2016, needed eight operations, developed an infection that almost cost him his foot, and returned more than two years later in what doctors called a miracle.

Fernando Gago suffered three ruptures. After the first in late 2015 and a rushed four-month return, he re-tore the same tendon three months later, spent seven months recovering, then two injury-free years later tore the other one and missed 10 months.

It remains a career crossroads.

Source: L'Équipe