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Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has been ruled out for several weeks after returning from the 2026 FIFA World Cup with torn knee ligaments. The Dutch international played through the tournament with a heavily bandaged knee, but further medical examinations after his return to Spain revealed the injury was more serious than initially believed.
Despite the severity of the injury, De Jong confirmed that surgery is not required at this stage. In a message shared on Instagram, he explained that early assessments suggested the injury was minor and safe to manage while playing, but follow-up tests in Barcelona revealed ligament damage. He said he is now fully focused on his rehabilitation and hopes to return to action as soon as possible.
The setback is a significant blow for Barcelona ahead of the new La Liga season, with De Jong expected to miss the opening fixtures as the club begins its bid for a third consecutive league title. The Netherlands were eliminated from the World Cup in the Round of 32 after a penalty shootout defeat to Morocco.
