Kevin De Bruyne had only just returned from being put out of action and again he was forced off.
Smashed out of the Champions League final with facial fractures from a collision with Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger, the Belgian made a triumphant return in the second and third European Championship group games but another bad tackle saw him miss the second half of the last-16 win over Portugal.
Watching De Bruyne limp off again will have been a painful but usual sight at Manchester City, who are used to watching the player struggle to avoid injuries as opponents try everything they can to stop him from displaying his world-class matchwinning ability. The beautiful game it isn't, but it is the game recognised around the world.
Pep Guardiola and his staff have had to manage De Bruyne's fitness for the last few years, wrapping him up in cotton wool where they can and prioritising him for the most important matches. Even that plan hasn't been foolproof, with a month out in January contributing to the player missing more matches with injury than any of his midfield teammates at the Etihad.
With Ilkay Gundogan completing 90 minutes just once for Germany this summer and missing training with an injury ahead of their last-16 game with England on Tuesday, the warning signs are there for City. Both De Bruyne and Gundogan - should he stay - will be expected to be integral parts of their push on all fronts next season, yet at the same time there cannot be too much reliance on two of the oldest members of the squad that have had serious injury issues before and are likely to be targeted during matches as they have been before.
A No.9 to replace Sergio Aguero has been the priority for this transfer window for more than a year and should remain so; the team cannot afford to go another season without having a recognised centre-forward that can reliably get them goals and finish the chances that are created.
Nevertheless, seeing the struggles of two of their midfielders at the Euros should have strengthened the idea - not that Guardiola would need it - that another body in that position will definitely be needed should a player such as Bernardo Silva decide to leave.
City have £100m ready to spend on Jack Grealish, knowing a large amount of that would be recouped through the sale of Bernardo and others in this window.
If a playmaker didn't appear to be a pressing need as the Blues coasted to the title, the last few months including the Champions League final have reinforced the case for the club to cover themselves in the most creative area of the pitch.
