Belgian midfielder Amadou Onana is set to miss a significant amount of playing time following a serious injury he sustained during the World Cup match, where Belgium triumphed over the United States with a score of 4-1.
Belgium is scheduled to compete against Spain in the quarter-finals of the World Cup on July 10 at 22:00.
The 24-year-old Aston Villa player was forced to exit the match in the 21st minute and has since been spotted using crutches and a brace on his right knee. Reports indicate he could be out for at least 7 to 8 months, according to sportal.bg citing The Athletic.
Amadou Onana Suffers Serious Injury During USA – Belgium Match
Onana had been a starting player for Belgium in the match against the USA, marking his fourth appearance at the World Cup. Previously, he played from the start against Egypt (1-1) in the group stage and came on as a substitute against New Zealand (5-1) and Senegal (3-2).
During the match against the USA, Romelu Lukaku celebrated Belgium’s fourth goal by lifting Onana’s number 24 jersey in the dying moments of the game.
The midfielder’s severe injury poses a significant challenge for head coach Rudi Garcia ahead of the clash with European champions Spain.
This incident also represents a heavy blow for Aston Villa, as manager Unai Emery intended to build his midfield around the trio of Onana, Boubacar Kamara, and Youri Tielemans.
Initially, the Birmingham club had no plans to seek reinforcements for this position, but they will likely need to reassess their transfer strategy now.
Onana joined Aston Villa from Everton in the summer of 2024, making 72 appearances for the club. Last season, he contributed to the team winning the Europa League and qualifying for the Champions League, participating in 38 matches across all competitions. During the World Cup, he has made a total of 4 appearances for Belgium.
