William Saliba is said to be facing a potential five-month recovery period after departing from France’s World Cup semi-final loss to Spain with an injury, according to talkSPORT.
The Arsenal defender had been engaged in a tailored training regimen during the World Cup to address his ongoing back issues.
Unfortunately, the 25-year-old was only able to play for 30 minutes in Tuesday's 2-0 defeat.
This is troubling news for Premier League champions Arsenal, as Saliba may not be available until December.
French journalist and frequent talkSPORT contributor Julien Laurens reported that Saliba was heard expressing, ‘My back is gone’ after sustaining the injury.
L’Equipe has now indicated that the Gunners are concerned that Saliba could be sidelined for four to five months.
They report that the player is scheduled to undergo surgery to address his chronic back condition.
The injury occurred while Saliba was under no immediate threat.
Also Read: Arsenal Can Win Every Competition –Saliba
Saliba fell to the ground and gestured to the bench for a substitution while France was already trailing 1-0 to the 2010 world champions.
The centre-back gingerly exited the pitch, assisted by two members of the medical team.
Les Bleus’ manager Didier Deschamps opted for Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix to replace him, alongside Dayot Upamecano.
Things took a turn for the worse for France when Tottenham’s Pedro Porro extended Spain’s advantage in the 58th minute, securing their spot in the final against Argentina after a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory over England.
Saliba was instrumental for the Gunners during the 2025/26 season, contributing to the club’s first Premier League title in 22 years.
The Parisian talent played a vital role for France during their World Cup campaign, even while managing his back issues.
He was absent for the final group stage match against Norway to maintain his fitness, as France had already secured their place in the knockout stage.
His back problem was closely supervised and treated by the French medical staff.
Saliba recently revealed that he had been dealing with this issue throughout Arsenal’s Champions League matches and their Premier League title chase.
