Gimenez Hospitalised After Gruesome Ankle Injury in Mexico's World Cup Exit
The AC Milan striker was taken to hospital following a nasty landing in stoppage time, leaving his recovery timeline unclear as Milan's pre-season approaches.
Santiago Gimenez was rushed to hospital after suffering a gruesome ankle injury in the 98th minute of Mexico's 3-2 World Cup last-16 defeat to England, a blow that overshadows the result itself for anyone tracking the AC Milan striker's fitness heading into the new Serie A season.
The 25-year-old had only been on the pitch for 37 minutes as a substitute when his ankle bent awkwardly under him, forcing him off and leaving Mexico to play out the remainder of stoppage time with ten men. Co-hosts Mexico exit the tournament they helped stage, but for Milan supporters the lasting image from Estadio Azteca will be Gimenez being helped from the pitch rather than the scoreline.
The Injury: What Happened to Gimenez in Stoppage Time
Gimenez had been introduced in the 61st minute, replacing the injured Gilberto Mora as Mexico chased an equaliser against England. He went the rest of the match without adding to his tournament tally before disaster struck deep into added time.
A Clean Challenge with Ugly Consequences
The injury stemmed from a tackle by England full-back Djed Spence, who won the ball cleanly. Replays showed no malice or mistimed contact in the challenge itself. Instead, Gimenez appeared to turn his ankle nastily as he landed, with the joint visibly bent out of shape in the 98th minute.
He was unable to continue and lay stricken on the touchline for the closing stages before being helped off by Mexico's coaching staff at full-time.
Ten Men for the Finish
Because Mexico had already used their substitutes, they were forced to see out the remainder of stoppage time a man light. It compounded an already chaotic finish at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, where the co-hosts' World Cup run came to an end.
What We Know (and Don't) About His Recovery
Details on the severity of the injury remain limited. The only official update so far has come from Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre, who confirmed after the match that Gimenez had been sent for hospital assessment.
Aguirre's Hospital Confirmation
"We need to check Santi because he is at the hospital right now," Aguirre told reporters.
No scan results, diagnosis, or recovery timeline have been made public. Given how the ankle appeared to bend on landing, the concern for Milan will be whether ligament damage or a fracture is involved, but until club or medical statements emerge, any timeline remains speculation.
Milan's Pre-Season Countdown
The uncertainty carries real weight for Milan, who will be building their pre-season programme around their forward line in the coming weeks. Key facts worth tracking as this story develops:
- Gimenez made four substitute appearances for Mexico at this World Cup without scoring.
- He entered Sunday's last-16 tie in the 61st minute for the withdrawn Gilberto Mora.
- The injury occurred in the 98th minute, directly from Spence's legal challenge.
- Mexico's official update is limited to Aguirre's post-match confirmation of hospital treatment.
A Chaotic Finish: Mexico's Exit and England's Bittersweet Advance
Gimenez's injury was the second freak incident in a stoppage-time period that had already turned strange. Unused England substitute jordan" class="entity-link entity-link--team">jordan-henderson" class="entity-link entity-link--player">Jordan Henderson had to be stretchered away after falling awkwardly while attempting to hurdle the advertising hoardings at full-time, an unrelated but similarly jarring moment in the same passage of play.
Bellingham and Kane Seal Progress
On the pitch, Jude Bellingham's brace and a second-half Harry Kane penalty proved decisive as Thomas Tuchel's side advanced 3-2. Mexico twice pulled level through Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez but could not find a third goal to force extra time.
Henderson's Freak Fall and Quansah's Red Card
England's win came despite playing more than half an hour with ten men after Jarell Quansah was sent off, adding another layer of chaos to a fixture that will be remembered as much for its injuries and dismissals as for the football. England now progress to face Norway in the quarter-finals at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Saturday, with kick-off at 10pm.
What Happens Next
The immediate priority is a formal medical update from either Mexico's federation or AC Milan on the extent of Gimenez's ankle injury. Until scan results are confirmed, any recovery estimate is premature, but the visible deformity in the joint will concern Milan medical staff planning for pre-season fitness work.
Milan are due to begin their own preparations for the new Serie A campaign in the coming weeks, and Gimenez's involvement will hinge entirely on what hospital assessments reveal. For Mexico, the tournament ends in the last 16 despite home advantage, while England turn attention to Norway in the last eight.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Santiago Gimenez against England?
Gimenez suffered a gruesome ankle injury in the 98th minute of Mexico's 3-2 World Cup last-16 loss to England on 5 July 2026. He landed awkwardly following a clean tackle from Djed Spence, with his ankle visibly bent out of shape, and was taken to hospital after the match.
Was Djed Spence's tackle on Gimenez a foul?
No. Replays showed Spence won the ball cleanly with his challenge. Gimenez appeared to twist his ankle purely from the way he landed, not from any foul contact.
How long was Gimenez on the pitch before the injury?
Gimenez came on as a 61st-minute substitute for Gilberto Mora and played until the 98th minute, when the injury occurred in stoppage time, meaning he was on the pitch for roughly 37 minutes.
Is there a recovery timeline for Gimenez's injury?
No official recovery timeline has been given. Mexico coach Javier Aguirre only confirmed after the match that Gimenez had been taken to hospital for assessment, and no further medical details had been released as of publication.
Did Mexico play with ten men because of the injury?
Yes. Because Mexico had used all their substitutes before Gimenez's injury, they were forced to finish the remaining stoppage time with ten men on the pitch.
Did Gimenez score at the 2026 World Cup?
No. Gimenez made four substitute appearances for Mexico during the tournament and did not score in any of them, including his final appearance against England.
Who does England play next in the World Cup?
England face Norway in the World Cup 2026 quarter-finals, with kick-off scheduled for 10pm at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Saturday.
What happened to Jordan Henderson during the England vs Mexico match?
Henderson, an unused England substitute, was stretchered off after falling while attempting to hurdle the advertising hoardings at full-time. It was a separate incident from Gimenez's injury but occurred in the same chaotic closing stages.
SportSignals is an independent publication. Views expressed are our own.
Sources
This article is based on reporting from the publications above. Specific facts and quotes are credited inline where used.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Santiago Gimenez against England?
Gimenez suffered a gruesome ankle injury in the 98th minute of Mexico's World Cup last-16 defeat to England, turning his ankle awkwardly after a clean challenge from Djed Spence. He was unable to continue and was later taken to hospital for assessment.
How did Mexico's World Cup run end?
Mexico were eliminated from the World Cup after a 3-2 last-16 defeat to England at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The co-hosts finished the match with ten men after Gimenez's stoppage-time injury left them without substitutes.
Is there a recovery timeline for Gimenez's ankle injury?
No official diagnosis or recovery timeline has been confirmed. Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre said only that Gimenez was undergoing hospital checks, leaving his readiness for AC Milan's pre-season uncertain.
