Ankle sprain confirmed after World Cup exit
Santiago Gimenez faces an anxious wait to discover the full extent of a right ankle injury sustained during Mexico’s World Cup elimination. The AC Milan striker was forced off in the closing stages of the hosts’ 3-2 last-16 defeat to England at the Estadio Azteca, with subsequent hospital tests ruling out a fracture but confirming a sprain to a joint with significant recent medical history.
Gimenez, introduced as a substitute on the hour mark, suffered the injury during an awkward movement while pressing for an equaliser in the dying minutes. Notably, the incident occurred without contact from England defender Djed Spence, forcing the forward’s withdrawal before he underwent examination at a local hospital.
Troubling recurrence on surgically repaired ankle
While the absence of a fracture offers some relief, the diagnosis affects the same joint that required surgery in December. Gimenez spent five months unavailable last season due to problems in the area, eventually undergoing arthroscopic cleanup in Amsterdam after conservative treatment proved insufficient.
With the striker now returning to club duty, doctors at San Siro will conduct a thorough assessment to determine the precise severity of the ligament damage. The club must establish whether this represents a minor setback or a more significant complication given the previous operation.
Implications for Amorim’s rebuild
The injury comes at a particularly inconvenient moment for the Rossoneri. New head coach Ruben Amorim only arrived in Milan on Monday to begin his squad rebuild, and the Portuguese tactician will be monitoring developments closely hoping to avoid a repeat of the lengthy absence that disrupted Gimenez’s previous campaign.
England, meanwhile, advance to a quarter-final meeting with Erling Haaland’s Norway despite finishing the match with ten men, while Mexico’s tournament concludes with fresh concerns over their attacking options.