World Cup 2026 injury list and return dates: Hugo Ekitike, Rodrygo, Xavi Simons

• Regular starter for the top 20-ranked nations at the World Cup, or player guaranteed/likely to make the listed nation’s World Cup squad
• Star player/legend/recognisable name for any nation
• Key player for club in latter stages of European competitions
• Any Premier League player

Dominic Solanke - Minor doubt | Hamstring | Possible return date: May 24

There is still a chance that Solanke could return for Tottenham Hotspur before the end of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign, but confirmation of a more serious hamstring issue would put his World Cup in doubt.

Jarrad Branthwaite -  Out | Thigh | No return date

Branthwaite suffered a severe thigh injury at the end of April and will not be available for England at the World Cup.

Jack Grealish -  Out | Foot | No return date

Grealish is still recovering from a season-ending foot injury, and the on-loan Manchester City attacker will not feature this summer.

Valentino Livramento - Minor doubt | Thigh | Possible return date: May 24

A thigh problem could rule Livramento out of the rest of Newcastle United's Premier League season, which has also put his World Cup involvement in doubt.

Hugo Ekitike - Out | Achilles | No return date

Liverpool attacker Ekitike will miss the World Cup having ruptured his Achilles tendon against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League in April.

Kylian Mbappe - Minor doubt | Hamstring | Possible return date: May 10

Mbappe is currently dealing with a hamstring injury, but the Real Madrid attacker could be back on the field for El Clasico on May 10.

Boubacar Kamara - Major doubt | Knee | Possible return date: June 4

Lamine Yamal - Minor doubt | Hamstring | Possible return date: June 4

Yamal tore his hamstring while representing Barcelona at the end of April, but the forward is already making strong progress in his recovery process, and the wonderkid is widely expected to be ready for the World Cup.

Samu Aghehowa - Out | Knee | No return date

Spain will be unable to call upon Porto striker Samu at the World Cup, with the 21-year-old suffering a serious knee injury in February.

Mikel Merino - Minor doubt | Foot | Possible return date: June 4

Arsenal midfielder Merino will need to be assessed ahead of the World Cup, as he has been sidelined since January due to a fractured foot.

Serge Gnabry - Out | Thigh | No return date

Germany will be unable to call upon Gnabry at the World Cup, with the Bayern Munich attacker out due to an adductor injury on his right thigh.

Marc Andre ter Stegen - Major doubt | Hamstring| Possible return date: June 14

Ter Stegen, who is on loan at Girona from Barcelona, is facing a battle to make the summer competition due to a hamstring issue.

Ruben Dias - Minor doubt | Hamstring | Possible return date: May 19

Dias has not played for Manchester City since the start of March due to a hamstring injury, but he should be back on the field before the end of the 2025-26 campaign.

Tomas Araujo - Minor doubt | Muscle | Possible return date: June 6

Rodrygo - Out | Knee | No return date

Rodrygo is another high-profile attacker out of the World Cup, with the Real Madrid attacker suffering a severe knee injury at the start of March.

Estevao - Major doubt | Hamstring | Possible return date: 2026 World Cup knockout rounds

Chelsea wonderkid Estevao faces a race against the clock to be ready for the World Cup, as he battles to overcome what has been described as a severe hamstring injury.

Eder Militao - Out | Hamstring | No return date

Militao's recent hamstring injury was severe enough to require an operation, and the Real Madrid centre-back will miss the World Cup.

Cristian Romero - Major doubt | Knee | Possible return date: June 17

Romero suffered a season-ending knee injury while playing for Tottenham Hotspur on April 12, and he is battling against the clock to be ready for the World Cup.

Juan Foyth - Out | Knee | No return date

Nico Gonzalez - Minor doubt | Muscle | Possible return date: May 17

Xavi Simons - Out | ACL | No return date

The Tottenham Hotspur attacker ruptured his ACL in a Premier League clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers at the end of April, and he will miss the World Cup.

Jurrien Timber - Minor doubt | Groin | Possible return date: May 24

Jerdy Schouten - Out | ACL | No return date

Matthijs de Ligt - Major doubt | Back | Possible return date: May 24

De Ligt has not played for Manchester United since November due to a serious back injury, and it is highly unlikely that he will be back for the World Cup.

Takumi Minamino (Japan) - Out | Knee | Possible return date: Unknown

Mohamed Salah (Egypt) - Minor doubt | Hamstring | Possible return date: June 15

Salah could yet return from a hamstring injury before the end of the campaign, and there is not believed to be any serious danger at this stage of the Liverpool star missing out on representing Egypt at the World Cup.

Luka Modric (Croatia) - Minor doubt | Cheek | Possible return date: June 17

Ali Gholizadeh (Iran) - Out | Knee | No return date

Luis Angel Malagon (Mexico) - Out | Achilles | No return date

Mohammed Kudus (Ghana) - Major doubt | Quad | Possible return date: June 18

Wataru Endo (Japan) - Out | Knee/Ankle | No return date

Arda Guler (Turkey) - Major doubt | Hamstring | Possible return date: June 14

Dejan Kulusevski (Sweden) - Major doubt | Knee | Possible return date: June 15