Hugo Ekitike opens up on Achilles injury and World Cup heartbreak
Hugo Ekitike has accepted the cruel twist of fate that robbed him of a World Cup dream with France after his Achilles rupture cut short his debut Liverpool season.
The striker, who finished as Liverpool’s top scorer with 17 goals across all competitions, suffered the injury in a 2-0 Champions League quarter-final loss to Paris Saint-Germain on April 14. That setback also ruled him out of Didier Deschamps’ squad for the tournament, leaving Ekitike on holiday as his teammates marched toward the semi-finals.
In an interview with British GQ, Ekitike insisted he’s made peace with the setback. “Obviously I’m in touch with them [the France squad] but not a lot because they’re busy playing and I’m busy with my recovery,” he said. “I wish I was there, but that’s life. I am where I am, and sometimes everybody has to deal with stuff.”
He added: “That’s my challenge and I accepted it so I’m happy for them and I hope they’re going to reach the final, win it, and bring the cup back to France.”
Three months on from the debilitating rupture, Ekitike returned to Liverpool’s AXA Training Centre this week for a rehabilitation assessment. The 22-year-old is now focused solely on regaining full fitness, with no club football until the Reds’ season resumes.
The injury ended a campaign in which he struck 17 goals in all competitions, including crucial strikes in the Premier League and Europa League. His haul made him Liverpool’s top scorer despite missing the final months of the season.
Ekitike’s exclusion from France’s World Cup squad came just days after his Champions League exit. The timing compounded the frustration, leaving him to watch from afar as Kylian Mbappé, Antoine Griezmann and company powered Les Bleus to the semi-finals.
“It’s tough to see them go so far without you,” he admitted. “But I’m pulling for them now. They’ve got a real chance to lift the trophy.”
With Liverpool’s pre-season set to begin in early August, Ekitike’s priority is regaining match sharpness. The club’s medical team will monitor his progress closely before green-lighting a return to competitive action.
For now, he’s embracing life beyond the pitch-even making his Centre Court debut at Wimbledon last Friday. “It’s my first official game to go watch and have good seats,” he said. “Honestly, it’s not something I’ve shown a lot, but I really like tennis.”
He compared the individual pressure of tennis to boxing, praising the mental endurance required over long matches. “It’s the kind of sport where you have to deal with pressure for three, four, five hours,” he noted. “It’s going to be intense, but I’m glad to be here.”