Liverpool, France striker Hugo Ekitike out for 2026 World Cup

Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike struggles to get to his feet after sustaining an injury against Paris Saint-Germain in a Champions League quarterfinal Tuesday in Liverpool, England. Photo by Adam Vaughan/EPA

April 15 (UPI) -- Liverpool and France striker Hugo Ekitike sustained a ruptured right Achilles tendon and will miss at least nine months, including the 2026 World Cup.

Sources told ESPN, L'Equipe and Le Parisien about Ekitike's status Wednesday.

The striker was hurt in the first half of the Reds' 2-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in a Champions League quarterfinal Tuesday in Liverpool, England.

The Reds have yet to confirm the injury, which led to Ekitike being taken off the field on a stretcher. Coach Arne Slot told reporters Tuesday that he didn't expect Ekitike to return this season.

"It doesn't look good," Slot said. "It's difficult for me to say how bad. [On Wednesday,] we will investigate this further. Let's see. This season [before Tuesday] we have played Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Hugo together for just 88 minutes. We got another 27 minutes tonight.

"I will be surprised if there are any more minutes this season."

Ekitike, 23, signed with Liverpool in July off a transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt. He totaled 17 goals and six assists over 45 appearances in his first season with the Reds.

The Reds (15-10-7), who were eliminated from the Champions League through Tuesday's loss, sit in fifth place in the Premier League standings. They will take on Everton at 9 a.m. EDT Sunday in Liverpool.

Top-ranked France will host No. 34 Ivory Coast in a friendly June 12 in Nantes. The French will face No. 14 Senegal in their World Cup opener June 16 in East Rutherford, N.J.