Xavi Simons will not play again this season and will miss the 2026 World Cup after suffering a suspected anterior cruciate ligament injury in Tottenham's win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, the club confirmed.
The news lands just six weeks before the tournament begins on June 11 across the United States, Canada and Mexico. For Simons, who had established himself as one of the more dynamic attacking players in the Premier League since joining Spurs, the timing is brutal.
He joins a growing list of prominent players whose World Cup preparations have been derailed by injury. BBC Sport has been tracking several of the most significant cases as international managers face increasingly difficult selection decisions.
Brazil have been hit particularly hard. Real Madrid forward Rodrygo tore his ACL in March and is out for the tournament entirely. Defender Eder Militao suffered a hamstring tear that has ended his club season, and while he is targeting a return for the World Cup, Brazil's medical staff are cautious given his recent injury history.
Argentina are also dealing with uncertainty. Tottenham defender Cristian Romero is sidelined for the remainder of the Premier League season with a knee injury sustained during a collision with goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky in Spurs' defeat at Sunderland in April. The 27-year-old is expected to recover in time, but his lack of match fitness heading into the tournament remains a concern. Romero's aggression and leadership are central to Argentina's defensive structure.
France face a more definitive loss. Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike ruptured his Achilles tendon in April and is not expected to return until 2027. Ekitike had been one of the standout performers in a difficult Liverpool season, scoring 17 goals and adding six assists across all competitions after joining from Eintracht Frankfurt last July.
Germany's situation in goal is also uncertain. Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen is fighting to recover from a long-term hamstring problem, and his chances of being ready for Germany's opening matches are fading.
For Ghana, the status of Tottenham midfielder Mohammed Kudus remains unclear. Kudus has been out for more than three months since limping off in Spurs' 1-1 draw with Sunderland on January 4 with a quad injury that may require surgery. Further assessment is pending.
Spain, meanwhile, received a scare when Lamine Yamal suffered a hamstring injury while scoring for Barcelona against Celta Vigo on Wednesday. Barcelona expect him to be fit for the tournament, but the injury placed him on an already crowded watch list.
With the opening fixture less than seven weeks away, the list of players either ruled out or racing against the clock continues to grow, leaving several national team coaches with less time and fewer options than they would have hoped for.
