MLS
Riqui Puig suffers anterior cruciate ligament tear: how long is he out for?
The Spanish midfielder will miss the 2024 MLS Cup final after suffering an injury in the Western Conference Final.
Spanish midfielder Riqui Puig had an outstanding regular season with the LA Galaxy, establishing himself as the backbone of Greg Vanney’s team.
After defeating the Seattle Sounders in the Western Conference Final, the Galaxy have secured their spot in the MLS Cup, where they will face the New York Red Bulls (Saturday December 7, 4:00 p.m. ET / 1:00 p.m. PT.) for the Major League Soccer title.
Puig, who continued his excellent form into the playoffs, raised alarms for the Galaxy after suffering an injury in the second half of the final. This afternoon, the club released a statement detailing the severity of his condition.
“Midfielder Riqui Puig has suffered a torn ACL in his left knee,” the club announced, confirming the worst-case scenario for the Spaniard ahead of the biggest game in American soccer.
LA Galaxy statement:
LOS ANGELES (Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024) – The LA Galaxy today confirmed that midfielder Riqui Puig suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee and will miss the 2024 MLS Cup presented by Audi on Saturday, Dec. 7 at Dignity Health Sports Park. The torn ACL was revealed in an MRI performed this morning.
Puig sustained the injury in the second half of the match, continuing to play over thirty minutes despite his injury, and providing the game-winning assist on Dejan Joveljić’s 85th minute goal. His contributions led to the 1-0 win over Seatle Sounders FC in the Western Conference Final at Dignity Health Sports Park on Nov. 30. Puig will undergo surgery on a date to be determined.
The 2024 MLS All-Star recorded 37 goal contributions (17 goals, 20 assists) in 36 matches played (34 starts) across all competitions for the LA Galaxy during the 2024 campaign. In four matches played (4 starts) during the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs, Puig notched four goals and four assists. The Matadepera, Spain, native finished the 2024 MLS Regular Season with 16 goals and 14 assists in 29 matches played (28 starts).
Puig’s Galaxy record
Puig was not only the main creator of scoring opportunities for the LA Galaxy but also played a crucial role in the goals that helped the team secure second place in the Western Conference. Now, after navigating through all the playoff rounds, they are vying for their sixth title.
Puig started in 82% of the regular season games, contributing to 33% of the Galaxy’s goals with 13 goals and 10 assists.
When will Riqui Puig return to play for the LA Galaxy?
The LA side did not give an official timeline for Puig’s return in their statement. However, recovery from a ruptured ACL can anywhere take between six and 12 months, depending on the severity of the issue as well as the recovery process.
In the playoffs, he added four goals and three assists. The Galaxy will sorely miss one of their most important players in the most significant match of the season, and Vanney will need to deploy his best strategy to compensate for Puig’s absence.
The game between LA Galaxy - NY Red Bulls will be played on Saturday December 7 at Dignity Health Sports Park with kick off at 4:00 p.m. ET / 1:00 p.m. PT.The MLS Cup Final will be available for all audiences through the Apple MLS pass. Watch LA Galaxy vs NY Red Bulls exclusively on MLS Pass.
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