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Belgium midfielder Amadou Onana, who injured his right knee in the 19th minute of Monday’s 4-1 win against the USA in the round of 16, will miss the rest of the World Cup.
In a statement released by the Belgian Football Association, team doctor Brahim Hacene said medical tests confirmed Onana ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his knee.
“This is devastating news,” Hacene said, “both for him personally and for the team.”
The 24-year-old Onana appeared in four games at the World Cup for Belgium and made his second start of the tournament against the USA. Onana also played in two matches at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, scoring a goal in a 5-2 win over the United States in a World Cup warm-up match in March. He was replaced on Monday in the 21st minute by Hans Vanaken, who scored one of Belgium’s four goals.
Onana has been with Aston Villa in the Premier League since 2024 and previously played for Everton.
“We immediately consulted with Amadou and Aston Villa to agree 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 give Amadou our full support.”
Onana will stay with the Red Devils for their quarter-final clash against 2010 champions Spain on Friday at the Los Angeles Stadium for a semi-final spot against France or Morocco. There are no other significant injuries on Belgium’s list, according to the statement.
Midfielder Jérémy Doku, who did not start for Belgium on Monday but came off the bench as his fitness remains an issue, took part in Tuesday’s training. So did midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who did not play on Monday.
Report from the Associated Press.
