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Christian Benteke ruled out of World Cup with injury

By on April 3, 2014


Belgian forward Christian Benteke has become the latest footballer to join the growing list of high-profile players set to miss the World Cup this summer as a ruptured Achilles tendon is expected to leave him sidelined for a minimum of six months. Benteke, who sustained the injury in training, is set to undergo surgery on the injury in the near future but will not recover in time to be part of what would have been his first ever World Cup appearance.

The 23-year-old had already all but booked his plane ticket to Brazil, having scored 34 goals in just 67 matches since joining Premier League club Aston Villa in the summer of 2012. Even alongside a Belgium squad consisting of the likes of Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Vincent Kompany, and Marouane Fellaini, the Zaire-born forward was a regular starter, and has already won 17 caps for Belgium since making his international debut in 2010. However, his injury has left him in the growing list of players, including Monaco’s Falcao, Real Madrid’s Sami Khedira, and Arsenal’s Theo Walcott, that will be sidelined for the World Cup, the tournament that would have been Benteke’s first ever major international tournament.

“It’s a terrible blow both for Christian and for the Club,” Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert said. “He will miss the rest of the season, obviously, and also the World Cup. But he’ll work hard because that’s what he does and he’ll come back for us stronger than ever next season.”

The injury will also keep Benteke out for the rest of the Premier League season, and if he really is out for six months the first month of the 2014/2015 season.

Thus, national teammate and captain Vincent Kompany sent his condolences to Benteke vie Twitter, writing: “Wishing you all the strength you need and I hope you will recover quickly! We’re all with you together! Courage fréro!”

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.