Belgium team doctor Brahim Hacene has confirmed that Aston Villa midfielder Amadou Onana has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
The 24-year-old suffered the injury while playing for Belgium in their 4-1 last-16 victory over the United States at the World Cup.
Onana went down clutching his right knee after attempting to reach the ball before United States forward Christian Pulisic.
He was substituted just 21 minutes into the match, limping off following treatment on the pitch before later being seen on crutches and wearing a knee brace.
Hacene described the diagnosis as devastating, confirming the extent of the damage in an official Belgium statement released shortly after the match.
“Unfortunately, the medical examinations have confirmed that Amadou has suffered a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament,” Hacene said.
“We immediately consulted with Amadou and with Aston Villa to agree on the best approach to his recovery,” he added, outlining the collaborative plan between club and country.
“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.”
Despite the injury, Belgium confirmed that Onana will remain with the squad for their quarter-final against Spain in Los Angeles on Friday.
Partial tears or ruptures of the ACL typically leave players sidelined for between six and nine months, meaning Onana faces a significant period on the treatment table.
The timing of the injury is a serious blow for Villa, who won the Europa League and finished fourth in the Premier League during the 2025-26 season.
The club are set to compete in Champions League football next season, and Onana was expected to be a central figure in their midfield plans.
Onana joined Villa in a £50m move from Everton in July 2024 and made 38 appearances for the Midlands club last season, contributing two goals.
He had started Belgium’s opening World Cup group game, a 1-1 draw against Egypt, before coming on as a substitute in wins against New Zealand and Senegal.
The midfielder will now undergo further assessments in the coming days as Villa and the Belgian Football Association work together to determine the best course of treatment and rehabilitation.
