Dutch forward, Xavi Simons says he is “heartbroken” after a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament ended his season with Tottenham Hotspur and crushed his hopes of playing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Netherlands attacking midfielder was carried off on a stretcher during Saturday’s 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers after a collision with defender Hugo Bueno. He briefly tried to continue before collapsing again.
Spurs later confirmed the severity of the injury and said surgery will take place in the coming weeks.
“They say life can be cruel and today it feels that way,” Simons wrote in a social media post. “My season has come to an abrupt end and I’m just trying to process it. Honestly, I’m heartbroken. None of it makes sense.”
A club statement read: “We can confirm that Xavi Simons has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee. Xavi will undergo surgery in the coming weeks and, following that, will then begin his rehabilitation with our medical team.”
ACL ruptures typically sideline players for six to nine months, ruling Simons out of the summer tournament hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The Netherlands begin their Group F campaign against Japan on 14 June.
“All I’ve wanted to do is fight for my team and now the ability to do that has been snatched away from me … along with the World Cup,” he added.
“Representing my country this summer … just gone. It’ll take time to find peace with this, but I’ll continue to be the best team-mate I can be. I have no doubt that together we’ll win this fight.
“I’ll walk this path now, guided by faith, with strength, with resilience, with belief, as I count down the days to getting back out there. Be patient with me.”
Simons joined Spurs from RB Leipzig for £52m last summer and has made 28 Premier League appearances, scoring twice and providing five assists in a turbulent campaign that has seen the departures of Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor before the arrival of Roberto De Zerbi.
The injury arrives at a critical moment in Tottenham’s survival fight. Spurs sit 18th, two points from safety with four matches left against Aston Villa, Leeds United, Chelsea and Everton.
