Belgian Star Amadou Onana Suffers Season-Ending ACL Injury, Will Stay with Squad

Belgian midfielder Amadou Onana has been ruled out of the World Cup after sustaining a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his knee during the match against the USA. The injury occurred after a strange fall, forcing the player to be substituted and leaving him visibly distressed on the bench.

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This is terrible news, both for him personally and for the team.

Medical examinations confirmed the severity of the injury, which dashes Onana's hopes of participating further in the tournament. Despite the personal setback, a joint decision was made with the player and his club for him to remain with the Belgian squad until at least the end of the quarter-finals. The team will collectively determine the next steps for his medical treatment and rehabilitation in the coming days.

The news has deeply affected the Belgian team. Captain Youri Tielemans described Onana as a "huge personality" within the group, emphasizing the strong bond among the players. "We are all there for him," Tielemans stated, adding that the team would fight for him for the remainder of the tournament. Teammate Arthur Vermeeren also shared his dismay, noting Onana's encouraging words to the team during halftime, highlighting his positive influence even amidst his own injury.

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We are all there for him. We want to fight until the end for him. Amadou is a huge personality within the group and everyone gets along very well with him. We will miss him, but hopefully, he can be back with us.

Romelu Lukaku offered a gesture of solidarity by holding up Onana's jersey after scoring a decisive goal, underscoring the team's collective support for their injured teammate. The incident casts a shadow over the team's performance, but their resolve to play for Onana appears to have strengthened their collective spirit.

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It hurt to see him leave the field like that. Onana is a great guy who also encouraged the players during halftime. He brought a message from his heart. It's really great to have a guy like that in the group.