Belgium's midfield blow: Amadou Onana's ACL rupture shakes Red Devils

Belgian midfielder Amadou Onana suffered an anterior cruciate ligament rupture in the first half of Belgium’s 4‑1 World Cup round‑of‑16 win over the United States, a devastating blow to the Red Devils and to his club Aston Villa on the tournament. Onana was forced off after colliding with American defender Antonee Robinson. The injury required him to leave the pitch before halftime. Medical staff confirmed the severity of the knee damage. Belgium coach Rudi Garcia said after the match that the injury will probably end Onana’s World Cup participation. He expressed disappointment at losing one of the team’s most influential midfielders.

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Further reports from The Athletic corroborated that the midfielder had indeed suffered a cruciate ligament rupture. The outlet highlighted the expected months‑long recovery period. Nevertheless, Belgium delivered an impressive performance, eliminating the United States and booking a quarter‑final against Spain. Charles De Ketelaere scored twice, while Hans Vanaken and Romelu Lukaku also found the net.

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An anterior cruciate ligament rupture typically sidelines players for several months. This means Onana now faces a long rehabilitation period. The article was translated into French by Artificial Intelligence, with the original French version available online. It was also rendered into English by Artificial Intelligence.