[URGENT ROUNDUP] World Cup 2026 Key Player Injury List | Injury Status & Return Outlook for Star Players from Qualifying Nations
About 3 months to the 2026 World Cup kickoff. Serious injuries continue to hit star players from major nations, including Rodrygo (Brazil) with an ACL tear and Takumi Minamino with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. We've compiled each country's injury situation in table format.
WC 2026 Key Player Injury Tracker
With the FIFA World Cup 2026 kick-off (June 11) roughly three months away, a string of serious injuries has hit key players across national squads. This article summarises the injury status of star players from participating nations in table format.
❗ Players Likely to Miss the World Cup
| Player | Country | Club | Injury | Prognosis | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rodrygo | 🇧🇷 Brazil | Real Madrid | Right knee ACL tear + lateral meniscus damage | 8+ months recovery. Confirmed absence from WC | 2026/3/3 | FOX Sports / CBS Sports |
| Takumi Minamino | 🇯🇵 Japan | Monaco | Left knee ACL tear | 8–10 months recovery. WC participation extremely unlikely | 2026/3/19 | Football Channel |
| Mohammed Salisu | 🇬🇭 Ghana | Leicester City | ACL injury | Confirmed absence from WC | 2026/3/3 | YEN.COM.GH open_in_new |
| Jack Grealish | 🏴☠️ England | Everton | Stress fracture in foot | ~2 months out. WC participation at risk | 2026/3/20 | Goal.com open_in_new |
⚠️ Players Whose Return Is Uncertain
| Player | Country | Club | Injury | Prognosis | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marc-André ter Stegen | 🇩🇪 Germany | Barcelona → Girona | Hamstring tear surgery | Nagelsmann has mentioned the possibility but called it "very difficult" | 2026/3/22 | World Soccer Talk |
| Nico Williams | 🇪🇸 Spain | Athletic Club | Serious groin injury | Surgery under consideration. Red light for WC participation | 2026/3/3 | beIN SPORTS |
| Mikel Merino | 🇪🇸 Spain | Arsenal | Foot bone injury (surgery in January) | Expected back early June. Just before tournament kick-off | 2026/3/15 | Planet Football |
| Wataru Endo | 🇯🇵 Japan | Liverpool | Left ankle sprain + ligament damage | Return date unknown. Touch and go for the tournament | 2026/2/11 | Football Channel |
| Takefusa Kubo | 🇯🇵 Japan | Real Sociedad | Left hamstring injury | Several weeks to months out | 2026/1/18 | Football Channel |
✅ Recovered / No Issues
| Player | Country | Injury | Status | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 🇵🇹 Portugal | Minor hamstring strain | Full recovery within 1–2 weeks. No impact on WC participation | 2026/3/24 | Sports Cafe / beIN SPORTS |
Impact on Japan
The situation is particularly serious for Japan. Takumi Minamino's absence due to an ACL tear is all but confirmed. On top of that, the return timelines for Wataru Endo and Takefusa Kubo remain unclear, while centre-backs Hiroki Ito, Ayumu Yokoyama, and Miki Yamane are also carrying injuries — all of which is having a major impact on manager Hajime Moriyasu's squad selection.
The match against Scotland on 29 March and the match against England on 1 April will serve as opportunities for replacement players to stake their claims.
_The information in this article is current as of 25 March 2026. Player conditions can change on a daily basis, so please check the latest official announcements from each club and national team for up-to-date information._