Xavi Simons has been ruled out for the rest of the season and will miss the upcoming World Cup, after sustaining a serious knee injury in Tottenham?s 1-0 win at Wolves on Saturday. The 23-year-old Netherlands international was stretchered off in the second half following a collision with Hugo Bueno, with initial reports indicating a potential anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Season and World Cup dreams shattered
Simons, who joined Spurs from RB Leipzig for £52m in August 2025, expressed his devastation on social media, calling the news ?heartbreaking?. ?They say life can be cruel and today it feels that way,? he wrote. ?My season has come to an abrupt end and I?m just trying to process it. Honestly, I?m heartbroken. None of it makes sense.?
The injury comes at a critical time for Tottenham, who are currently in the relegation zone in 18th place in the Premier League, two points from safety with four matches remaining. Simons had been expected to play a key role in their survival battle.
World Cup hopes dashed
The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, begins on 11 June. The Netherlands are set to open their Group F campaign against Japan on 14 June. Simons had been aiming to represent his country on the global stage, but that dream is now over.
?All I?ve wanted to do is fight for my team and now the ability to do that has been snatched away from me ? along with the World Cup,? he added. ?Representing my country this summer ? just gone. It?ll take time to find peace with this, but I?ll continue to be the best team-mate I can be.?
Simons vowed to return stronger, saying he would walk the recovery path ?with faith, with strength, with resilience, with belief?, as he counts down the days to returning to the pitch. He asked fans and teammates to ?be patient? with him during the rehabilitation process.