Images of Presnel Kimpembe's brutal Achilles tendon rupture have emerged after fellow France international Hugo Ekitike suffered the same injury.
Liverpool suffered one of their most damaging losses under Arne Slot on Tuesday night in Anfield, as Paris Saint-Germain beat them 2-0 in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash.
Having also won 2-0 at Parc des Princes, the result saw the reigning champions progress to the semi-finals with ease, where they will face either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.
However, the result wasn't even the worst part of the match for Liverpool, as star striker Ekitike suffered an awful injury during the first half, leading to him being taken off the pitch on a stretcher.
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Since then, reports have suggested that Ekitike has suffered an achilles tendon injury that could rule him out for a significant amount of time, likely meaning he will miss the World Cup this summer.
With details of the exact nature of the 23-year-old's injury scarce, some have looked back to when Ekitike's fellow French Kimpembe suffered a similar achilles injury on 26 February 2023, discovering a graphic image of his recovery.
On 26 February 2023, Kimpembe was stretchered off the field after he ruptured his achilles tendon during the 3–0 win over Paris Saint-Germain's Le Classique rivals Marseille.
The defender immediately required surgery, with an image taken following the injury showing that the back of his foot required extensive stitches and staples.
WARNING: Graphic image below of the fighter's injury below.
Following the injury, the Frenchman endured a gruelling 700-day spell on the sidelines, undergoing back-to-back surgeries before returning during PSG's 2-0 win over Le Mans in the French Cup in February last year.
“It has been a while since I experienced emotions like that," he admitted post-match.
When will Hugo Ekitike return for Liverpool following his injury?
Although it is not yet known if Ekitike's injury is exactly the same as the horrific one that Kimpembe suffered several years ago, initial reports have suggested that he is facing at least 9-12 months off the pitch.
The French outlet claims that the Liverpool star suffered a rupture of his right Achilles tendon and will rule him out of this summer’s World Cup in North America, the first major tournament of his career.
For Liverpool, they will have to learn how to play without one of their key players, who has scored 17 goals and assisted six across 45 appearances in his first season at Anfield.
Topics: Football, PSG, Hugo Ekitike, Injury, Liverpool, Champions League
Ben McCrum