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Strasbourg’s Joaquín Panichelli Suffers ACL Tear, Ruled Out of 2026 World Cup

The confirmed ACL tear sidelines the Ligue 1 scoring leader at a pivotal point for Strasbourg.

Overview

  • Argentina’s national team, which confirmed the diagnosis Friday, said the 23-year-old striker ruptured the ACL in his right knee during Thursday’s training session.
  • Strasbourg said it is awaiting his return to France for full assessment, with a Coupe de France semifinal against Nice and a UEFA Europa Conference League quarterfinal against Mainz on April 9 and 16 now looming without him.
  • Panichelli is expected to be out for about six months, ending his club season and removing him from Argentina’s World Cup plans.
  • The summer signing from Alavés leads Ligue 1 with 16 goals and has 20 in 39 games across all competitions in a breakout first season for the Alsace club.
  • Coach Gary O’Neil may lean on Emmanuel Emegha, Martial Godo or Julio Enciso up front, while Panichelli faces a second major knee rehab after tearing the left ACL in 2023 and posting a message Friday vowing to fight back.