Barcelona’s Gavi has become the latest in a growing list of stars to suffer a serious ACL injury, with several leading players across the game also facing a long time out on the sidelines with the knee issue.
The 19-year-old sustained the season-ending injury against Georgia while in action for Spain – with qualification for Euro 2024 already sealed – pulling up and clutching his knee after 26 minutes.
Reports have even emerged that the player could miss Euro 2024 as a result, with Barca already linked with potential replacements in the upcoming January transfer window to fill the hole left by one of their key stars.
But who else across the game has suffered a similar injury already this season, with the games coming thick and fast for every team across all competitions?
Here, Mail Sport take you through some of the biggest names to be out on the sidelines with the long-term knee problem.
Gavi has become the latest in a string of A-list stars to suffer a long-term ACL injury this term
The 19-year-old had to be taken off after 0nly 26 minutes of Spain’s clash with Georgia
First off is the defence, and this five-person unit – including the goalkeeper – sees not one but two Real Madrid superstars make the cut alongside a Premier League trio.
In goal is of course Belgium No 1 Thibaut Courtois, considered the rival to both Alisson and Ederson for the title of the world’s leading shot-stopper.
The Real Madrid keeper suffered the agony of an ACL injury at the start of the season, with Los Blancos drafting in Spanish stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga on loan from Chelsea to cover for Courtois.
In front of the Belgian is the centre back pairing of Wesley Fofana of Chelsea and Tyrone Mings from Aston Villa right holding down the fort.
Fofana has once again been ruled out for an extended period with injury heartbreak, having only made 20 appearances for the Blues since his big-money arrival in summer 2022.
He missed 126 days of action last term with a knee injury but looked to have put the worst of his fitness issues behind him, before undergoing ACL surgery in pre-season.
England international Mings managed just over half an hour of Premier League action this season before his campaign with Unai Emery’s side was cruelly curtailed in the 5-1 defeat to Newcastle.
Another to suffer first-day-of-the-season heartbreak was Jurrien Timber, newly arrived at Arsenal from Ajax,…