The countdown to the World Cup is on, and with just five weeks until kickoff, the injury list is growing longer by the day. Some of soccer's biggest stars are nursing setbacks, leaving fans and national teams holding their breath.
Kylian Mbappé is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, though the French superstar is expected to return for Real Madrid this month. While there's no immediate concern he'll miss the World Cup, every knock to France's talisman sends a shiver through the squad. Similarly, Barcelona's teenage sensation Lamine Yamal is recovering from a leg muscle injury and is still on track to make his World Cup debut for Spain—if he can get back to full fitness in time.
Mohamed Salah recently gave fans a scare when he hurt his hamstring, but the Egyptian icon is expected to be fine for the tournament. The same can't be said for everyone. France's Hugo Ekitike suffered an Achilles injury in April that will take more than six months to heal, ruling him out of the World Cup and likely the start of next season. Brazil stars Rodrygo and Éder Militão are definitely out, and Bayern Munich's Serge Gnabry is also unavailable after injuring his adductor in training.
Spain and Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been dealing with a groin issue, a worrying development given he missed most of last season with ACL damage. City manager Pep Guardiola has offered positive updates, and the former Ballon d'Or winner should play again this season—but the clock is ticking.
The mounting injuries come as players and coaches sound the alarm on an ever-growing schedule. The expanded World Cup follows a supersized Club World Cup, and the Champions League has also bulked up in recent years. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta summed it up bluntly, calling the demand on players "an accident waiting to happen."
Other notable absentees include the United States' Cameron Carter-Vickers and Patrick Agyemang, both out with Achilles injuries. Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane, son of French legend Zinedine Zidane, is a doubt after a facial injury from an on-field collision.
As the big kickoff approaches, teams are racing against time to get their stars back on the pitch—and fans are hoping the biggest names will be ready to shine when it matters most.