De Ligt out of World Cup as Dutch defender undergoes surgery
Netherlands defender Matthijs de Ligt will miss the World Cup after deciding “surgery was the only option left” to finally resolve a back issue that has kept him out for six months. The 26-year-old Manchester United man made a strong start to what quickly turned into a nightmare campaign, having been unable to feature since a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at the end of November. De Ligt worked on the grass last month as he stepped up his rehabilitation, but United confirmed on Friday he has now undergone a “corrective procedure” that has ended his season and World Cup ambitions.
The club say the Netherlands international now begins “a new phase of his recovery and is expected to return for United in the early stages of the 2026-27 season. ” De Ligt posted a photo in a hospital bed with a thumb up alongside the Instagram caption: “After six months of treatment and working hard to get back, surgery was the only option left. “I’m disappointed I couldn’t help the team the last six months and obviously missing out on the World Cup but I am looking forward to doing everything to get back in front of the fans and feeling better again.
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