Beth Mead is a doubt for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup after suffering an ACL injury.
Arsenal and England forward Mead, the Player of the Tournament as the Lionesses won Euro 2022 last summer, has suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament and will be out at least until the new year, possibly for the rest of the club season. The Gunners forward picked up the injury during the closing stages of Saturday's thrilling 3-2 defeat to Manchester United in the WSL and will now require surgery.
Mead hobbled off after going into a challenge near the touchline with United defender Hannah Blundell and it has now been confirmed the injury is serious. She was substituted deep in stoppage time, looking visibly distressed.
And her club Arsenal have now confirmed that the 27-year-old will visit a surgeon in the coming days. The news will not only be a major blow to her clubs' aspirations in the WSL and Champions League, but also to her national side who have a huge 2023 coming up, including the World Cup finals in late summer.
Arsenal's statement read: "We can confirm that Beth Mead suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in our match against Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
"Unfortunately, this means that Beth is set for an extended period on the sidelines. She will see a surgeon in the coming days, after which further details on timescales will be established.
"Everyone at the club will now be supporting Beth and working hard to get her back on the pitch as soon as possible."
Mead, is Arsenal ’s joint top goalscorer in all competitions so far this season, with three in the WSL and another two in the Champions League. But she was withdrawn from the Lionesses squad the previous week before suffering the injury as the Gunners unbeaten start to the season ended in a 3-2 defeat to Manchester United at the Emirates.
The forward has scored 37 goals in 102 appearances for her club and 29 goals in 50 for her country, securing the Euro 2022 golden boot with six goals during the finals. Also winning Player of the Tournament, Mead was a major part of the Lionesses side that won their first ever major tournament after beating Germany 2-1 at Wembley.
However, the injury will be a major blow to Sarina Wiegman as she plans to try and win England the World Cup for the first time ever in Australia and New Zealand next summer. With the tournament starting on July 20, the Lionesses play their first Group D match two days later on 22, meaning Mead will face a race against time to prove her fitness for the tournament, providing the surgery is successful.
The 27-year-old has scored 29 times for England and won her 50th cap for the national side in the recent 4-0 win over Japan.
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