Morocco international defender Chadi Riad has suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament, ruling him out for several months and missing the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Tests conducted this week confirmed the serious injury, as reported by the British newspaper the "Daily Mail".
How did the injury occur?
Chadi Riad picked up the injury during Crystal Palace's Premier League match against Everton. The 22-year-old left the pitch on a stretcher in the 70th minute following a strong challenge. This is the second ACL injury of his career, having previously undergone a lengthy rehabilitation during his first season at Palace after his £12 million move from Barcelona.
Last season told a more positive story for the defender. He re-established himself as a regular starter and played a key role in Crystal Palace's UEFA Conference League final victory over Rayo Vallecano. Our team stats show Riad has earned 14 international caps for Morocco, contributing to 6 clean sheets.
What does this mean for Morocco's World Cup plans?
The timing of the injury is particularly damaging for the national team setup. Riad was expected to be a cornerstone of Morocco's defense during their World Cup qualifying campaign and the tournament itself. His absence forces the manager to seek alternatives at center-back. The available options can be reviewed on our squad page.
While Morocco has depth in defense, losing a player with Riad's Premier League experience and international pedigree is a significant setback. His last appearance for the Atlas Lions was in a World Cup qualifier against Senegal, where he helped secure a goalless draw.
How will Crystal Palace cope without him?
Crystal Palace's management faces a sudden defensive crisis with Riad's injury. The club had already moved to strengthen their backline during the summer transfer window, signing Axel Disasi on loan from Chelsea and closing in on a deal for Joel Ordóñez from Club Brugge.
A club source told the British paper, "The injury is a huge blow for the player and the team. Chadi had started the season with big ambitions." The manager must now reconfigure his defensive line ahead of upcoming Premier League fixtures. The team's schedule can be found on our fixtures page.
What is the expected recovery timeline?
An anterior cruciate ligament tear typically requires a rehabilitation period of six to nine months. This means Riad is unlikely to play again before February or March 2027 at the earliest, causing him to miss the entire club season and Morocco's World Cup campaign.
This being the player's second ACL injury may potentially extend the recovery process or necessitate a more cautious rehabilitation program. This absence represents a major loss for Morocco, who were relying on a solid defensive foundation for their World Cup journey. Our injuries tracker shows this is the third serious injury to a key national team player in the last six months.
Morocco begins its 2026 World Cup campaign in Group F, facing tough opposition. The coaching staff must now identify defensive solutions in the weeks leading up to the global tournament.
