Samu Aghehowa ACL Injury Rules Him Out Of The 2026 World Cup, Porto Confirms Knee Setback

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Porto will be without leading striker Samu Aghehowa for the rest of the 2025-26 campaign after confirmation of a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury, a setback that also rules the Spain international out of the 2026 World Cup in North America.

The forward was forced off at half-time in Porto’s 1-1 draw with title rival Sporting CP on Monday, and medical tests have since shown significant damage to Samu’s right knee, leaving both club and national team plans badly affected.

The club detailed the diagnosis in an official update, stating: "Samu, who was substituted at half-time in the match against Sporting (1-1), suffered a sprained right knee with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The Spanish international will be re-evaluated by FC Porto's Medical Department in the coming days."

Samu’s absence is a major blow for Spain, who are regarded as leading contenders to win the 2026 World Cup this summer, with the former Atletico Madrid striker having appeared twice in qualifying, including a substitute role in the decisive fixture against Turkey.

Since joining Porto ahead of the 2024-25 season, Samu has become central to the attack, scoring 32 goals in 50 league matches, a return that places Samu behind only Viktor Gyokeres, with 39 goals, and Vangelis Pavledis, with 38, in that period.

Across those league games, Samu has also posted one of the strongest efficiency records in Portugal’s top division, holding the fourth-best minutes-per-goal figure at 114.9 among players with at least 10 goals, underlining how the ACL injury significantly weakens Porto’s title challenge.

Porto have not yet given a precise timeline for recovery from the ACL damage, but with Samu already ruled out for both the remainder of the domestic season and the World Cup, the focus for club and country now turns towards long-term rehabilitation and future campaigns.