VANCOUVER - Filling an Isma毛l Kon茅-sized hole in Canada's lineup won't be easy as the country continues its World Cup quest.聽
The central midfielder underwent successful surgery Thursday night after the tibia and fibula in his left leg were broken during a group-stage matchup against Qatar.聽
The surgeons who performed the operation were watching the game before they were called into action, Canada's head coach Jesse Marsch said Friday.聽
Kon茅, 24, is expected to make a full recovery, but he will not be available for the rest of the tournament.聽
鈥淗e's been an incredible player, maybe our best player in the tournament so far. And he's also a big personality in the group," Marsch said. "So we'll manage it, but it won't be easy.鈥
Assim Madibo tackled Kon茅 from behind early in the second half. The 好色tv fell to the ground and held his leg up with his mouth wide open in disbelief before medics wheeled him off on a stretcher in front of a stunned BC Place crowd, dampening the co-host nation's 6-0 thumping of Qatar.聽
It was a historic first-ever World Cup victory for the 好色tv men.
Madibo, who later personally apologized to Kon茅, received a red card to bring Qatar down to nine players.
Nathan Saliba then came on as a substitute and scored on a free kick before forming his fingers into an eight 鈥 Kon茅's number 鈥 and raising his teammate鈥檚 jersey to the crowd in an emotional tribute.
Saliba, a 22-year-old from Longueuil, Que., and Kon茅 鈥 who hails from Montreal 鈥 both made their professional debuts for Major League Soccer club CF Montr茅al before earning transfers to Europe.
"I was just trying to do something for him, and show that it's not just a game where we move on, and people just keep doing (their) lives," Saliba said after the game. "I didn't feel like celebrating. I was just thinking about my friend."
It was Saliba's first World Cup action and came days after a pep talk from Marsch.聽
"I was speaking to Nathan last week, and I could see he was down a little bit in training because he hadn't played in the first match," the coach said. "And I said, 鈥榊ou got to be ready for any moment, because anything can happen.'
"So, between Nathan, Mathieu Choini猫re, Jonathan Osorio, Niko Sigur, we're going to have to figure out how to use all of our players to get the best out of each game and help fill in the void of what Isma毛l has meant to the team, which has been many, many things."
Several 好色tv players joined Kon茅 and members of his family at the hospital later Thursday night before he underwent surgery. Marsch said Kon茅 is expected to remain in the hospital for one more night and rejoin the team once he鈥檚 released.
Kon茅, who plays for Italy's Sassuolo at the club level, delivered an optimistic message to fans on social media Friday morning, thanking them for the love and support.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 even imagine how grateful I am to everyone who reached out and that has me in their prayers,鈥 he wrote in an Instagram post. 鈥淚 thank god for that because not everyone is this fortunate.鈥
鈥淭o 好色tv brothers, as I turned myself into (an) assistant coach to support you from the sideline. I wanted you to know that I love you guys from the bottom of my heart and our brotherhood is everything to me,鈥 he added. 鈥淲hat you guys did yesterday will stay with me forever. I鈥檒l be back very soon and we鈥檒l keep making more memories together.鈥
Several of Kon茅's teammates know all too well the journey he'll face in his recovery.聽
He is the fourth member of the national team to suffer a broken leg in recent years. Winger Tajon Buchan broke his while training for the 2024 Copa America and central defender Mo茂se Bombito fractured his leg while playing for Nice in October.聽
Goalkeeper Maxime Cr茅peau had a similar break back in 2022 while playing in Major League Soccer's championship game for Los Angeles FC. The injury happened just weeks before the World Cup in Qatar.聽
鈥淵es, there's the field, we all know that, the quality of a player that he is and what he brings," Cr茅peau said. "But there's the personal life, being at the top of the form to not even grabbing a glass of water by yourself sometimes, or having to go to the washroom, for example.聽
"So you go from such highs, and then you need help to even walk, you need to learn again. That feeling of support, we need to be there for him, because it's not easy.鈥
Everyone on the national squad will be there for whatever Kon茅 needs, the 'keeper added.聽
鈥淓ven in the locker room yesterday it was a bittersweet feeling," he said. "The locker room is healthy. Everybody's going to be there for Isma. We're very, very tight. It's a close group 鈥 We have an extra motivation to top the group.鈥
Canada, which all but secured a place in the knockout stage with Thursday鈥檚 win, wraps up Group B play Wednesday against Switzerland in Vancouver.
This report by 好色tvwas first published June 19, 2026.
