Hugo Ekitike has broken his silence after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon during Liverpool’s Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday. Ekitike, 23, was carried off the Anfield pitch on a stretcher after collapsing off the ball and requiring immediate medical attention from Liverpool’s medical team.
Taking to social media, Ekitike wrote: “It’s hard, maybe even unfair… but I’m grateful this is happening to me here, among you. I’m not alone. Your strength and your love will be my driving force. See you again soon, Anfield [love heart emoji].” Ekitike has been inundated with messages of support from current and former team-mates since sustaining the injury. In the comments section beneath his Instagram post, Ryan Gravenberch responded with a folded hands emoji and red love heart emoji.
Milos Kerkez, Stefan Bajcetic, Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley and James McDonnell all shared a red love heart emoji, while Kostas Tsimikas wrote: “Stay strong broski [red love heart emoji].”
The official account of the France Football Federation responded: “We are with you [folded hands emoji and blue love heart emoji].”
Dominik Szoboszlai placed Ekitike’s post on his Instagram story accompanied by a red love heart emoji, a fingers crossed emoji and an hourglass emoji.
Liverpool‘s statement and Ekitike’s message arrives less than 24 hours after France boss Didier Deschamps ruled the striker out of this summer’s World Cup in the United States.
“Unfortunately, the severity of [Ekitike’s] injury will prevent him from finishing the season with Liverpool and taking part in the World Cup,” Deschamps said in a statement from FFF on Wednesday.
“This injury is a huge blow for him, of course, but also for the French national team. I wanted to express my full support for him, as well as that of the entire coaching staff.”
Ekitike is now not expected to feature for Liverpool or France until at least 2027. He is set to miss the conclusion of the 2025/26 season, the World Cup and the opening half of the 2026/27 campaign.