According to RMC Sports reporter Hawkins, French defender Saliba has been diagnosed with a fractured back. The Arsenal defender was injured before the start of the World Cup and has been playing with the help of painkillers.
Reports indicate that Saliba, who was forced to leave the field early in France's 0-2 defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup semi-final, has been diagnosed with a fractured back. This injury actually occurred before the World Cup began, during a Premier League match.
He gritted his teeth and persevered, trying to overcome the pain, but his body ultimately couldn't support him through the entire World Cup. In the 30th minute of the semi-final, Saliba collapsed on the grass at Dallas Cowboys Stadium. The Arsenal defender said at the time, "My back can't take it anymore." Unfortunately, his assessment was correct. According to RMC Sport, Saliba has been diagnosed with a fractured back.
The duration of his absence has not yet been determined.
In fact, Saliba was already carrying this injury before joining the French team for the World Cup. The injury occurred two months prior during an English Premier League match. Throughout the World Cup, he relied on painkillers to continue playing and received daily specialized treatment from the French team's medical staff. Consequently, Saliba was unable to participate in all of the French team's training sessions.
Despite his physical condition, Saliba still represented France in the World Cup and maintained a high level of performance, which was a remarkable feat, even a form of self-sacrifice. But ultimately, his body reached its limit.
Currently, Saliba's exact recovery time is uncertain, and it's unclear whether surgery will be necessary. However, it is certain that this is an injury requiring a long period of rest and recovery, and further findings will be available in the future.
