Flores out of Canada's World Cup team with a torn ACL

Canadian midfielder Marcelo Flores has been ruled out of the upcoming World Cup after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The 22-year-old sustained the injury during his club Tigres UANL's Concacaf Champions Cup final match.

Flores went down without contact in the 77th minute of the game, clutching his right leg before leaving the pitch in tears. He later confirmed the severity of the injury on social media, writing, "My ACL is gone." He expressed gratitude for the messages of support he received and vowed to make a strong comeback.

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My ACL is gone. I wanted to say thank you to everyone and all the messages. I haven't been on my phone or checked messages, but I promise to get around to everyone and I really appreciate the concerns. I'll be back stronger.

Canadian coach Jesse Marsch stated that he and the team were "devastated" by the news. Flores had been named in the 26-man World Cup squad just days prior. The team is also managing the fitness of other key players, including Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies, as they prepare for the tournament.

Born in Canada to a Mexican father, Flores was eligible to represent either nation. He switched his international allegiance from Mexico to Canada earlier this year and has since featured in games against Iceland and Tunisia. Canada is scheduled to play Uzbekistan in a friendly before opening their World Cup campaign against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12.

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We were devastated by the news.