Japan international Takumi Minamino¡¯s participation at next year¡¯s World Cup is in doubt after the midfielder¡¯s club, AS Monaco, confirmed he had ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left ?knee.
The 30-year-old suffered the injury while ?playing in ?Monaco¡¯s 2-1 win over Auxerre ?in the French Cup on Sunday.
¡°Our midfielder Takumi Minamino suffered an injury to his left knee,¡± Monaco said in a statement on Monday.
¡°Medical ?examinations revealed a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament.¡±
ACL injuries typically rule players out for ?six to nine months, meaning Minamino is unlikely to recover in ?time for ?the World Cup, which will ?take place in the United States, Canada ?and ?Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
Japan is in Group F of the World Cup, where it will face the Netherlands, Tunisia and a playoff winner. Its opening match is set for June 14 against the Dutch in Dallas.
Minamino¡¯s injury is a massive ?blow ?for Japan, with the former Liverpool player having made 73 appearances and ?scored 26 goals for Samurai Blue.
His absence will also impact Monaco¡¯s season, with the side ninth in Ligue 1 ?and set to face Spain¡¯s Real Madrid and Italy¡¯s Juventus in the Champions League group stage next month.
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