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Belgian midfielder Amadou Onana, who injured his right knee in the 19th minute of Monday’s 4-1 win over the United States in the round of 16, will miss the remainder of the World Cup.
In a statement released by the Belgian football federation, team doctor Brahim Hacene said that medical examinations confirmed that Onana ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his knee.
“This is devastating news,” Hacene said, “both for him personally and for the team.”
Onana, 24, appeared in four World Cup matches for Belgium and made his second start in the tournament against the United States. Onana also played two games at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and scored a goal in a 5-2 victory over the United States in a World Cup warm-up match in March. He was replaced in the 21st minute on Monday by Hans Vanaken, who scored one of Belgium’s four goals.
Onana has been with Premier League side Aston Villa since 2024 and previously played for Everton.
“We immediately consulted with Amadou and Aston Villa to agree the best approach for his recovery,” Hacene said. “In 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.”
Onana will remain with the Red Devils for their quarterfinal match against 2010 champion Spain on Friday at Los Angeles Stadium for a semi-final berth against France or Morocco. There are no other major injuries in the Belgian squad, according to the statement.
Midfielder Jérémy Doku, who did not start for Belgium on Monday but came off the bench because his fitness remains an issue, took part in training on Tuesday. The same did midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who did not play on Monday.
Associated Press information.
