Injury Update: Belgium Midfielder Out for Remainder of Tournament
Belgium's World Cup campaign has been dealt a significant blow with the news that midfielder Amadou Onana will play no further part in the tournament. Onana, who injured his right knee in the 19th minute of Monday's 4-1 win against the United States, has been diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
According to team doctor Brahim Hacene, medical examinations have confirmed the extent of Onana's injury. "This is devastating news," Hacene said, "both for him personally and for the team."
The 24-year-old Onana had appeared in four games at the World Cup for Belgium, including a start against the USA on Monday. He was replaced in the 21st minute by Hans Vanaken, who went on to score one of Belgium's four goals. Onana has been with Aston Villa of the Premier League since 2024 and previously played for Everton.
"We immediately consulted with Amadou and with Aston Villa to agree on the best approach to his recovery," Hacene said. "Over the coming days, we will jointly determine the next steps in his medical treatment and rehabilitation. Throughout this process, we will continue to provide Amadou with our full support."
Despite Onana's absence, Belgium's roster remains relatively intact ahead of their quarterfinal match against 2010 champion Spain on Friday. Midfielder Jérémy Doku, who has been struggling with fitness issues, participated in Tuesday's training session, as did midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who did not play on Monday.
