He had been on the pitch for just 21 minutes when he went down clutching his right knee, chasing a ball that Christian Pulisic was also reaching for. Amadou Onana tried to carry on, but after treatment on the turf he limped off, later seen on crutches and wearing a knee brace. The diagnosis, delivered by Belgium team doctor Brahim Hacene, was the one every footballer dreads: a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament. “Unfortunately, the medical examinations have confirmed that Amadou has suffered a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament,” Hacene said in a statement. “We immediately consulted with Amadou and with Aston Villa to agree on the best approach to his recovery. Over the coming days, we will jointly determine the next steps in his medical treatment and rehabilitation. We will continue to provide Amadou with our full support.”
The 24-year-old had started Belgium’s World Cup campaign in their opening 1-1 draw against Egypt, and came off the bench in wins over New Zealand and Senegal. His tournament is now over, though Belgium said he will stay with the squad for their quarter-final against Spain in Los Angeles on Friday. Partial tears or ruptures of the ACL typically sideline players for six to nine months, meaning Onana will miss a significant chunk of Aston Villa’s season.
“Aston Villa midfielder Amadou Onana ruptured his ACL while playing for Belgium at the World Cup.”
That season was already shaping up to be their biggest in decades. Villa won the Europa League and finished fourth in the Premier League in 2025-26, earning them a place in the Champions League. Onana, who joined the Midlands club in a £50m move from Everton in July 2024, made 38 appearances last season and scored two goals. His absence will be a heavy blow as Unai Emery’s side prepare to compete on the continent’s biggest stage.