Spain striker Samu Aghehowa set to miss World Cup after suffering ACL injury

Porto and Spain striker Samu Aghehowa is set to miss the 2026 World Cup after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

Aghehowa, 21, was replaced at half time during Monday’s Primeira Liga fixture against Sporting CP and assessments have revealed an ACL injury to his right knee.

Recovery time for an injury of such nature is typically anything from five months to in excess of a year. The striker is set to miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season, with Porto leading the Primeira Liga by four points and also qualifying for the knockout stages of the Europa League.

He is also expected to miss the 2026 World Cup, which begins on June 11. Spain have been drawn alongside Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group H at the tournament. Aghehowa has made four appearances for Spain’s senior team since his debut in November 2024.

Aghehowa has scored 20 goals in 32 appearances for Porto this season. He joined the club from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2024 following the collapse of a proposed move to Chelsea. Newcastle United also considered a move for him in the summer of 2025.

Real Sociedad’s Mikel Oyarzabal was predominantly selected as Spain’s starting striker throughout their 2025 Nations League campaign and World Cup qualifiers. Aghehowa started October’s World Cup qualifying win over Bulgaria. Other options for Luis de la Fuente include Alvaro Morata, Borja Iglesias and Jorge de Frutos