France's defender defied a broken back to play the World Cup

French defender William Saliba, 25, appeared for France at the 2026 World Cup across the United States, Canada and Mexico despite a fractured vertebra, according to L’Équipe and , with the severity only emerging after France’s semi‑final loss to Spain. The semi‑final incident occurred after about thirty minutes when Saliba suddenly dropped to the ground and was forced off. The report, published today at 14:16, identified a vertebral fracture as the cause. Saliba’s back problems are not new; he has suffered chronic pain since his teenage years. During the tournament he relied on painkillers and a very light training regime to stay fit.

France’s shocking claim: Saliba played World Cup 2026 with broken back

“ I can’t take it any more, my back is broken,” Saliba allegedly told teammate Dayot Upamecano, according to L’Équipe. The fracture was described as a vertebral break by . He featured in six of France’s seven World Cup matches, completing the full ninety minutes in each appearance except the final group game against Norway, where he remained on the bench for the entire match. Arsenal, his club, worries about a long‑term absence but has not officially confirmed the injury. Medical staff are evaluating the need for surgery, with a possible four‑to‑five‑month recovery period. If surgery is required, Saliba could miss the start of the next club season, extending his time away from competitive action. Arsenal will monitor his rehabilitation closely.