Ismael Kone: Injury Expert Predicts How Long Canada Star Will be Sidelined

Rob is senior football editor at GiveMeSport, with over 15 years experience covering sport in various capacities since graduating from the University of Gloucestershire in 2008 with a degree in journalism.

A childhood obsession for all things football developed into a career writing about the beautiful game, initially producing content for clients including Luton Town Football Club and the PGMOL. His first big interviews were with Premier League referees Howard Webb and Michael Oliver in 2009.

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An injury expert has predicted how long Canada’s Ismael Kone will be out of action for after suffering a horror injury at the 2026 World Cup.

Kone, 24, was stretchered off early in the 57th minute with a serious leg injury after being tackled by Assim Omer Madibo.

Canada’s players were left visibly shaken by the incident, while Madibo also looked devastated to have caused such a serious injury.

An audible snap was picked up by the pitch-side microphones, leaving football fans fearing the worst. Watch footage of the incident below:

“[You] could hear the bone snap,” Canada boss Jesse Marsch said after the match. “Your heart goes out to him. Everybody’s shaken for him.”

Marsch added: “Ismael is such a great kid. He’s so imperfect but that’s why you love him.

“He can do great things and the next moment he loses concentration. He embodies a lot of what the team is. It’s a huge loss for us.

“He’ll be fine, we’ll get him good doctors. He’s got a big future and he’s a big part of everything we’ll do.”

Madibo was shown a straight red card for a serious foul as Kone was subbed off for Nathan Saliba.

Qatar, who also had Homam Al Amin sent off during the first half, were subsequently reduced to nine men with over 30 minutes remaining.

Julen Lopetegui’s side were already 3-0 down by this point and went on to lose the Group B fixture 6-0, with Juventus striker Jonathan David helping himself to a hat-trick.

However, Canada’s win was deeply overshadowed by the injury suffered by Kone. “I saw his leg,” Canada’s Stephen Eustáquio told reporters. “I saw that something wasn’t right, and I just wanted for the medical staff to get in as quick as possible.”

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While it’s clear that Kone’s World Cup is now over, as he prepares to undergo surgery, an injury expert has now predicted exactly how long the Sassuolo midfielder will be sidelined for.

“Ismael Kone had to be stretchered off in the second half with a lower leg injury,” @physioscout posted on X (Twitter).

“Direct contact with the medial side of his lower leg caused a clear bony deformity. This causes concern for a tibia +/- fibula fracture due to the contact point.

“Hopefully open/compound fracture is avoided to limit infection risk. This would extend timeline out. Awful news for Canada and Kone.”

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano estimates that Kone could be out for “four to five months" but this seems like the best-case scenario based on how severe the injury looked. A longer spell on the sidelines appears more likely.