LA Galaxy's Riqui Puig faces surgery following knee rehabilitation complication

The Los Angeles Galaxy announced on Friday that Spanish midfielder Riqui Puig requires an operation due to a complication in his recovery from a torn knee ligament injury, which caused him to sit out the entire 2025 Major League Soccer season.

Aged 26, Puig suffered a rupture to his left anterior cruciate ligament during the 2024 MLS Cup Western Conference final. This kept him out of the Galaxy's triumphant MLS Cup final win a week afterwards, as well as the whole of the 2025 season, during which the side managed just seven victories without his presence.

Having emerged from Barcelona's renowned La Masia youth system, Puig resumed training with the California team last autumn. However, his comeback to MLS play now hangs in the balance.

The Galaxy stated: "Riqui Puig encountered a complication in his ACL rehabilitation whilst in Barcelona, Spain." "Following discussions with the club's medical team and external experts, it has been decided that he will have a procedure on his left knee (Saturday)."

Since joining the American outfit in 2022, Puig has featured in 74 games, netting 27 goals and providing 23 assists in regular season and playoff fixtures.

He penned a fresh deal with the Galaxy in May 2024, committing to the club through to 2027.