Porto and Spain forward Samu Aghehowa has suffered a major setback after sustaining a serious knee injury that has effectively ended his chances of featuring at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 21-year-old striker, who has Nigerian roots, tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee, an injury that will sideline him for an extended period and derail what had been an impressive campaign.
Aghehowa picked up the injury during Porto’s Primeira Liga clash against Sporting CP, where he was forced off at halftime. Subsequent medical examinations confirmed the ACL damage, one of the most serious injuries footballers can suffer.
Recovery from an ACL tear typically takes between five months and over a year, effectively ruling him out for the remainder of the 2025–26 season. This comes despite Porto’s strong domestic run, with the club currently four points clear at the top of the league and already through to the Europa League knockout stage.
Before the injury, Aghehowa had been in outstanding form, scoring 20 goals in 32 appearances across all competitions.
The injury is also expected to rule him out of contention for the 2026 World Cup, which begins on June 11. Spain, drawn in Group H alongside Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, may now have to navigate the tournament without one of their most promising attacking talents.
Aghehowa has made four senior appearances for Spain since his debut in November 2024 and started a World Cup qualifier against Bulgaria in October. His rapid rise had generated excitement following his move from Atletico Madrid to Porto in 2024 after a failed transfer to Chelsea, with Newcastle United also tracking him last summer.
With Aghehowa sidelined, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente is expected to rely on alternatives such as Mikel Oyarzabal, Alvaro Morata, Borja Iglesias and Jorge de Frutos as preparations for the tournament continue.
