Belgium's midfielder Amadou Onana ruled out of FIFA World Cup following devastating ACL rupture

Belgium's high-flying World Cup campaign has suffered a devastating setback. Defensive midfielder Amadou Onana has been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament after sustaining a horrific right knee injury during the Red Devils' thumping 4-1 victory over the United States in the Round of 16 on Monday.The 24-year-old Aston Villa star went down in severe pain in the 19th minute of the match and had to be hooked off early. In an official statement released by the Royal Belgian Football Association, team doctor Brahim Hacene confirmed the worst possible fears, revealing that comprehensive medical examinations showed a complete rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Hacene labeled the medical report as devastating news for both the player and the national squad.

Onana had been a vital cog in Belgium’s midfield engine room, featuring in all four matches of this edition and making his second start against the Americans. The former Everton man has a rich history against the USA, having played in the 2022 edition in Qatar and scored against them in a 5-2 warm-up victory in March. On Monday, he was replaced in the 21st minute by Hans Vanaken, who incidentally stepped up to score one of Belgium's four goals in the rout.

The Belgian federation has already initiated joint consultations with Premier League side Aston Villa to map out a comprehensive medical rehabilitation program. Despite the heartbreak, Onana has chosen to remain with the national camp to support his teammates through the business end of the tournament.Silver Lining for Red DevilsWhile losing Onana leaves a massive void, Belgium received a massive double boost ahead of their blockbusting quarter-final clash against 2010 champions Spain on Friday at Inglewood, California.Talismanic playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, who sat out Monday's clash, returned to full intensity training on Tuesday. Speedster Jérémy Doku, whose fitness remains an ongoing concern, also participated heavily in the session. With no other major injury worries on the roster, the Red Devils are sweating on their star wingers to click as they hunt for a semifinal berth against either France or Morocco.