Mexico National Team Star Sidelined with Devastating Knee Injury
Mexico's national football squad has received devastating news after it was confirmed that central midfielder Luis Chávez sustained a ruptured ACL during a training session earlier this week.
El Tri issued an official announcement verifying that the Dinamo Moscow star had picked up an injury that compelled him to exit Mexico's training camp on Wednesday, with subsequent medical examinations revealing the full extent of the damage.
"Luis Chávez, the 29-year-old midfielder, has been ruled out of the 2025 Gold Cup due to a severe knee injury," the official statement declared. "Chávez sustained a complete ACL tear in his right knee, a diagnosis that was verified following an MRI scan conducted on Thursday.
"We extend our best wishes to Luis Chávez for a swift and complete recovery."
This represents a devastating setback for Mexico both for the upcoming Gold Cup and future competitions. While Mexico has not provided a specific recovery timeframe for Chavez, medical experts anticipate he will be sidelined for six to eight months. This projected absence could potentially threaten his inclusion in Javier Aguirre's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Chávez emerged as Mexico's standout performer during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, notably delivering a spectacular free-kick goal against Saudi Arabia in El Tri's final match of the competition.
The Liga MX title winner with Pachuca subsequently transitioned to European football in Russia with Dinamo Moscow and has remained a consistent fixture in Mexico's lineup. Chávez featured as a starter in Mexico's most recent Gold Cup encounter against Costa Rica.
Mexico must now depend on Marcel Ruiz, Orbelín Pineda, and Carlos Rodríguez to compensate for Chávez's absence. Nevertheless, as a left-footed central midfielder, El Tri lacks a direct replacement who matches Chavez's specific skill set, amplifying the impact of his injury.
Squad members will need to elevate their performances and capture Aguirre's attention in the upcoming months, though El Tri remains optimistic that Chávez will recover in time for the World Cup in twelve months.