Ghana international Tariq Lamptey is expected to miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup after suffering a serious injury setback and parting ways with Italian club Fiorentina.
The 25-year-old defender has left Fiorentina following a mutual agreement to terminate his contract, ending a short and unfortunate spell in Italy.
Lamptey joined Fiorentina from Brighton & Hove Albion but managed only two appearances for the club. Both outings came as a substitute against Napoli and Como.
His season took a major turn on September 21 when he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in his left knee during the match against Como. Since then, he has been unable to return to action, playing just 25 minutes in total for the club.
Fiorentina previously described his condition as a “complex medical situation,” highlighting the seriousness of the injury.
The contract termination is now widely viewed as a strong indication that Lamptey is unlikely to recover in time for the World Cup in North America next month.
Injuries have been a recurring challenge in the defender’s career since his early breakthrough at Chelsea and subsequent move to Brighton in 2020.
For Ghana, Lamptey has earned 11 international caps, with his last appearance for the Black Stars coming in October 2024.
Ghana will compete in Group L at the 2026 World Cup alongside Panama, England, and Croatia.
