Riqui Puig’s Injury Setback Delays Return to LA Galaxy Until 2027

omidbasir- LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig’s return from injury has been postponed until 2027, as confirmed by the MLS club on Saturday. Puig recently underwent a second reconstructive surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of his left knee.

The former Barcelona player missed the entirety of the 2025 MLS season following an initial ACL tear sustained on November 30, 2024. His latest procedure took place in Barcelona, with the Galaxy stating, “Puig is expected to make a full recovery and be ready to rejoin the team for the start of the 2027 MLS season.”

At 26 years old, Puig described the delay in his recovery as “one of the hardest and most complicated moments” of his life. In a heartfelt message on Instagram, he shared, “After a whole year of working every day with a single goal in mind, yesterday at a medical checkup, the doctor gave me news you never want to hear: the plastic surgery wasn’t good and I had to go back to surgery.”

He continued, “It’s not easy to find the words after all we’ve been through. Without a doubt, it’s one of the hardest and most complicated moments I’ve ever had to manage in my life, both on a personal and professional level.”

Despite the challenges, Puig expressed optimism following the surgery, stating, “Today I can say that the surgery went well, and that gives me strength and reassurance to look forward. Now I only have one thing on my mind: start working already, train with more excitement than ever, and try to be the Riqui Puig you all know again. More want, more hungry, and more strength.”

Puig originally injured his left knee during the second half of the 2024 Western Conference final, where he continued to play for over 30 minutes despite experiencing discomfort. Subsequent testing, including an MRI, confirmed the ACL injury, ruling him out of the 2024 MLS Cup final, which the Galaxy won against the New York Red Bulls.

During the successful 2024 season, Puig contributed significantly with 21 goals and 24 assists in 36 matches across all competitions. In total, he has recorded 29 goals and 32 assists in 82 appearances for the Galaxy. His outstanding performance in the MLS earned him All-Star recognition in both 2023 and 2024.