Ghana defender Tariq Lamptey is expected to miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup after his difficult stint with ACF Fiorentina came to an abrupt end following the mutual termination of his contract.
The 25-year-old full-back has been sidelined since September after suffering a devastating anterior cruciate ligament injury in his left knee shortly after arriving in Italy from Brighton & Hove Albion.
Lamptey’s time at Fiorentina proved frustrating and short-lived. He featured in only two Serie A matches, making brief substitute appearances against SSC Napoli and Como 1907 before disaster struck.
Fiorentina terminate Tariq Lamptey’s contract after just 25 minutes of football
The injury occurred during Fiorentina’s clash with Como on September 21, with the defender unable to play again afterwards. In total, he managed just 25 minutes in a Fiorentina shirt before being ruled out indefinitely.
At the time, Fiorentina described the situation as medically complicated, raising immediate concerns over the player’s long-term recovery prospects.
With the World Cup in North America only weeks away, Lamptey’s departure from the Serie A side now appears to confirm fears that he will not recover in time to represent Ghana national football team at the tournament.
The former Chelsea FC academy graduate has endured persistent injury setbacks throughout his professional career, despite showing immense promise since breaking onto the scene.
Lamptey has earned 11 caps for Ghana, although he has not featured for the Black Stars since October 2024.
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Ghana are set to face Panama, England and Croatia in Group L at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
