Belgium's Amadou Onana suffers ACL tear in World Cup win over USA, out of tournament
Belgium midfielder Amadou Onana ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament during the 4-1 last-16 victory over the United States, ending his World Cup and sidelining him for months.
Injury blow
Belgium's World Cup campaign suffered a major setback when midfielder Amadou Onana sustained a serious knee injury in the round of 16 against the United States. The 24-year-old twisted his right knee without contact in the 21st minute and was immediately substituted. He later reappeared on the bench using crutches and wearing a knee brace. Reports from The Athletic and the New York Times confirmed that Onana ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament, an injury that typically requires at least six months of rehabilitation. Coach Rudi Garcia acknowledged the severity after the match.
I think it's serious unfortunately. The players came to him at the end of the match. We are a team, we are united. That's what makes our strength.
Match recap
Despite the early loss, Belgium delivered a commanding performance to eliminate the host nation 4-1 in Seattle. Charles De Ketelaere opened the scoring in the ninth minute, tapping in after a nervous start by the Americans. The USA equalised through Malik Tillman's deflected free kick in the 31st minute, but De Ketelaere headed Belgium back in front just over a minute later. Substitute Hans Vanaken, who had replaced Onana, capitalised on a goalkeeping error to make it 3-1 in the 57th minute. Romelu Lukaku sealed the win in added time, prompting a mass exodus of home fans.
- Charles De Ketelaere scores to give Belgium the lead.
- Amadou Onana twists his knee and is substituted; Hans Vanaken replaces him.
- Malik Tillman equalises for the USA with a deflected free kick.
- De Ketelaere restores Belgium's lead with a back-post header.
- Vanaken scores after a goalkeeping error to make it 3-1.
- Romelu Lukaku adds a fourth goal, then holds up Onana's shirt.
Teammates rally
Onana's teammates made clear that the victory was for him. Lukaku celebrated his goal by holding up Onana's number 24 shirt, a gesture he later explained.
Before the match he kept joking and I reminded him we were playing against the United States. He said: 'Relax, brother. We'll be fine.' Then he got injured and when I scored I just wanted him to know he was right. We were fine.
Captain Youri Tielemans said the squad hopes Onana can remain with the group despite the injury. "We are all there for him and support him. We hope he can just stay with us. We want to keep fighting for him until the end," Tielemans said. Nicolas Raskin revealed that Onana addressed the team at half-time with a heartfelt message. "Today we played for him," Raskin said. After the final whistle, several players wore Onana's shirt in tribute.
What's next
Belgium advance to a quarter-final against European champions Spain on Friday in Los Angeles. The winner will face either France or Morocco in the semi-finals. Garcia must now reshape his midfield without Onana, who had started the tournament opener against Egypt and featured in four of Belgium's five matches. His absence leaves a significant gap in both defensive cover and pressing intensity.
Club impact
The injury also deals a blow to Aston Villa, Onana's club since 2024. The Premier League side will be without the midfielder for much of the upcoming season, with recovery timelines ranging from six to nine months. Onana had been a key figure for Villa, and his prolonged absence will force the club to consider midfield reinforcements.
