The World Cup is less than a month away. The excitement is palpable, and the roster of players representing their nations is starting to take shape.
But there’s one thing holding back many of these players: injury. A dislocated shoulder, a torn ligament, or a fractured knee—all these injuries can leave you sidelined for months and potentially sideline you from taking part in the World Cup.
Here are some of the players forced to withdraw from this summer’s tournament due to injury:
Kyle Walker – England
England is in a world of hurt. The Three Lions have had their fair share of injuries, but the most recent one will surely sting the most. Kyle Walker is out for at least four months after undergoing groin surgery, and his absence is a huge blow to England’s chances.
The right-back has been a key part of the English national team since he made his debut in 2014, and he’s been a consistent starter since 2016.
His presence on the flank has given England an extra offensive weapon they don’t necessarily have with other options like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kieran Trippier.
Diogo Jota – Portugal
Diogo Jota is set for a prolonged spell on the sidelines due to the calf muscle injury he sustained against Manchester City on Sunday, which will also rule him out of Portugal’s World Cup campaign.
The winger picked up the knock in the match’s second half and was substituted off in the 80th minute. He attempted to return to action but could not do so due to the severity of his injury.
Ng’olo Kante – France
France midfielder N’Golo Kante is set to miss the next two months due to a hamstring injury. The Chelsea star has undergone surgery on the injury and will be out for the rest of the season, but could also miss the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Chelsea has announced that Kante has undergone surgery on his hamstring after specialist guidance and is expected to be out for between 10-12 weeks.
Reece James – England
Reece James has been ruled out of the World Cup, but he’s not giving up hope. The full-back suffered a knee injury during a Champions League clash with AC Milan at the San Siro and will be out for eight weeks. While that seems like it would rule him out of the tournament, James took to social media and suggested that he hasn’t ruled out making it to Qatar.
Chelsea released a statement on their club website stating that James would be out for eight weeks, making him unavailable for selection by Gareth Southgate.
Angel Di Maria – Argentina
Despite being a veteran midfielder and having played over 100 times for Argentina, Angel Di Maria will not be able to participate in this winter’s World Cup in Qatar. The 34-year-old has suffered a thigh injury, which has left him set to miss the competition.
Di Maria recently joined Juventus from Paris Saint-Germain and has made seven appearances for the Italian side, scoring one goal and five assists in those fixtures.
