Belgium midfielder Amadou Onana is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament during his country’s 4-1 victory over the United States in the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Aston Villa midfielder was forced off after just 21 minutes of Monday’s match and was later seen leaving the stadium on crutches with a brace on his right knee. The injury is expected to rule the 24-year-old out for seven to eight months.
Villa handed major injury setback
Onana’s injury comes as a significant blow for Aston Villa ahead of the new season.
Manager Unai Emery had been expected to rely on a midfield trio of Onana, Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans, but the Belgian’s long-term absence is now likely to force the Premier League club to reconsider its transfer plans.
Villa were not actively pursuing a new central midfielder before the injury but may now need to strengthen that area of the squad before the transfer window closes.
Onana joined Villa from Everton in the summer of 2024 and has established himself as a key player, making 72 appearances for the club.
He featured 38 times in all competitions last season as Villa lifted the Europa League title and secured qualification for the UEFA Champions League.
Belgium advance despite setback
Belgium completed a convincing 4-1 victory over the United States to book a place in the World Cup quarter-finals, where they will face Spain on Friday.
Striker Romelu Lukaku paid tribute to his injured teammate by holding up Onana’s number 24 shirt after scoring Belgium’s fourth goal in stoppage time.
The injury also raises further concerns for Aston Villa’s midfield options, with Kamara still working his way back from a serious knee injury suffered in January.
The French midfielder has not played since tearing the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during Villa’s FA Cup third-round victory over Tottenham Hotspur and has been targeting a return for the start of pre-season.
Villa will now await further medical assessments on Onana as they prepare for the new campaign without one of their first-choice midfielders.