LA Galaxy star Riqui Puig’s return from harm has been delayed till 2027, the MLS membership mentioned Saturday after confirming that the midfielder underwent one other anterior cruciate ligament reconstructive surgical procedure on his left knee.
The previous Barcelona participant missed the entire of the 2025 MLS season after initially struggling a torn ACL on Nov. 30, 2024.
Puig underwent his second process in Barcelona, with the Galaxy including that “Puig is predicted to make a full restoration and be able to rejoin the workforce for the beginning of the 2027 MLS season.”
The 26-year-old mentioned the setback in his restoration was “one of many hardest and most intricate moments” of his life.
“After an entire yr of working daily with a single aim in thoughts, yesterday at a medical checkup, the physician gave me information you by no means wish to hear: the cosmetic surgery wasn’t good and I had to return to surgical procedure,” mentioned Puig on his private Instagram.
“It isn’t simple to search out the phrases in spite of everything we have been by. Undoubtedly, it is one of many hardest and most intricate moments I’ve ever needed to handle in my life, each on a private {and professional} stage.
“However at present I can say that the surgical procedure went effectively, and that provides me power and reassurance to look ahead. Now I solely have one factor on my thoughts: begin working already, prepare with extra pleasure than ever and attempt to be the Riqui Puig you all know once more. Extra need, extra hungry, and extra power.”
The midfielder sustained the unique harm to his left knee in the course of the second half of the 2024 Western Convention remaining, enjoying on for over half-hour within the 1-0 victory regardless of feeling discomfort. Puig then had subsequent testing completed and an MRI to substantiate the ACL, ruling him out of the 2024 MLS Cup remaining, when the Galaxy defeated the New York Pink Bulls.
He performed an integral a part of the workforce’s success that season, recording 21 objectives and 24 assists in 36 video games throughout all competitions. General, he is managed 29 objectives and 32 assists in 82 matches for the Galaxy.
His efforts in MLS additionally earned him MLS All-Star recognition in 2023 and 2024.
