Aston Villa midfielder Amadou Onana has suffered a ruptured ACL while representing Belgium at the World Cup, ruling him out for several months in a major setback for club and country.
Aston Villa and Belgium midfielder Amadou Onana is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee during Belgium’s World Cup last-16 victory over the United States.
The 24-year-old was forced off just 21 minutes into Belgium’s convincing 4-1 win after injuring himself while attempting to reach the ball ahead of United States captain Christian Pulisic. Onana immediately grabbed his right knee before receiving treatment on the pitch.
Despite efforts from the medical staff, the midfielder was unable to continue and limped off the field. He was later seen leaving the stadium on crutches with a protective knee brace, raising immediate fears of a serious injury.
🚨🇧🇪 Amadou Onana has suffered ACL rupture and will be out for 7-8 months.
World Cup and start of the season over for Belgium and Aston Villa midfielder, as @TheAthleticFC report. pic.twitter.com/AxtOqvaXNg
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 7, 2026
Those fears were confirmed by Belgium team doctor Brahim Hacene, who described the diagnosis as devastating. Medical examinations revealed that Onana had ruptured the ACL in his right knee, an injury that typically sidelines players for between six and nine months.
Hacene added that Belgium’s medical team had already consulted with both the player and Aston Villa to determine the best course of action. The next steps regarding surgery and rehabilitation will be agreed upon jointly in the coming days.
Although ruled out of the remainder of the tournament, Belgium have confirmed that Onana will remain with the squad to support his teammates ahead of their World Cup quarter-final clash against Spain in Los Angeles.
The injury is a huge setback for Aston Villa, who are preparing for a demanding campaign after securing Champions League qualification and lifting the Europa League trophy during the 2025-26 season. Losing one of their key midfielders for several months leaves Unai Emery with a significant problem ahead of the new campaign.
Onana joined Villa from Everton in a £50 million move in the summer of 2024 and has quickly become an important figure at the club. He made 38 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring twice, and had featured in three of Belgium’s four World Cup matches before his tournament was brought to a heartbreaking end.
