Belgium’s emphatic 4-1 dismantling of co-hosts the United States in Seattle came at a steep cost, as midfielder Amadou Onana collapsed clutching his right knee inside the opening 21 minutes and will play no further part in the tournament. The 24-year-old, attempting to cut out a pass near the touchline, planted his foot awkwardly and immediately signalled to the bench. He limped off in tears and was later seen on crutches with a heavy brace, even as his teammates secured a quarter-final berth. Romelu Lukaku, who scored the fourth goal, later revealed a pre-match exchange in which Onana had laughed off his advice to take the Americans seriously, replying, “Relax, my brother. Everything will be fine.” Lukaku’s celebration was a direct message to his stricken colleague.

Medical examinations confirmed the worst fears: a complete rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in the right knee. Belgium’s team doctor, Brahim Hacene, described the diagnosis as “devastating news, both for him personally and for the team.” The injury occurred without direct contact from an opponent, a mechanism specialists in Europe note is typical of ACL tears when a player decelerates abruptly, twists, or loses trunk control. The Belgian federation, in coordination with Aston Villa, said Onana would remain with the squad at least through the quarter-finals, but his recovery is expected to take between seven and eight months, ruling him out of the rest of the World Cup and a large portion of the club season.

Onana’s absence strips the Belgian midfield of a physical presence and a dressing-room leader just as the side gathers momentum. After a sluggish start to the tournament, Rudi Garcia’s team roared back to beat Senegal in the last 16 and then overwhelmed the Americans. The victory sets up a meeting with Spain in Los Angeles on Friday, a fixture that now looms as a severe test of Belgium’s depth. Viewed from Brussels, the loss of a player who started the opening draw against Egypt and featured in every knockout match so far is a significant setback, yet the squad’s reaction on the pitch — Hans Vanaken, his replacement, scored the third goal — hinted at resilience.

For Aston Villa, the injury interrupts the trajectory of a £50 million signing who was set to feature in the club’s return to the Champions League. Medical timelines suggest Onana may not appear again until early 2027. The Belgian federation’s decision to keep him embedded with the national team through the Spain match underscores the collective spirit Garcia has sought to foster. The next concrete step is Friday’s quarter-final, where Belgium must reconfigure without one of its most influential midfielders.