Ten top international footballers sidelined by injuries during extended break

Ten world-class footballers have been sidelined by injury during the extended international break as national teams played up to four matches in two weeks. The list includes players from top European clubs and South American sides, raising fresh concerns for their clubs ahead of crucial fixtures.

Raphinha, the Brazilian forward at Barcelona, left the field at halftime in Brazil’s second friendly against Australia after feeling discomfort in his thigh. Meanwhile, Flamengo’s Uruguayan midfielder Giorgian de Arrascaeta fractured his wrist and is set to undergo surgery on Thursday, ruling him out of upcoming matches for his club.

Germany’s Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck, already carrying an injury from the World Cup, sprained his ankle during a training session on Wednesday. Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala suffered a thigh injury during the warm-up before Germany’s match against the Netherlands at the start of the international window.

Kai Havertz, now with Arsenal, picked up a muscle injury while playing against the Netherlands for Germany. Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé was injured after scoring against Turkey and is expected to be out for 10 to 12 days. His compatriot Ibrahima Konaté also faces a spell on the sidelines after injuring his right leg in training with France.

Liverpool’s Dutch forward Cody Gakpo was substituted in the first half of the Netherlands’ match against Serbia on September 27. His Liverpool teammate Alexander Isak, playing for Sweden, was withdrawn from the squad after completing a full 90 minutes in his first international match of the break.

Barcelona’s Eric García was due to start for Spain against England but felt knee discomfort before the match and returned to his club early. This adds to the defensive worries for the Catalan side.

The injuries pile up during what is an unusually long international break this September, with several players now expected to miss key club fixtures. Clubs will be monitoring their players closely as they return from their national teams, hoping to avoid longer layoffs.

The latest confirmed update is that Arrascaeta will undergo surgery on Thursday, and Mbappé’s recovery timeline of 10 to 12 days gives Real Madrid a clear window for his return. Other players’ recovery times remain unconfirmed as their clubs assess the damage.

According to Yahoo Sports.