Mexico’s Luis Chávez ruled out of Gold Cup with ACL injury, sidelined six to eight months

Mexican midfielder Luis Chávez has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2025 Gold Cup and is expected to miss several months of action due to a serious knee injury. The Dynamo Moscow player left training early on Wednesday after suffering what initially appeared to be a minor knock. However, further tests revealed a much more concerning diagnosis.

On Thursday, the Mexican Football Federation confirmed that Chávez underwent an MRI scan, which revealed a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee. Recovery from this type of injury typically takes four to six months, meaning Chávez is unlikely to feature again until late 2025.

“After undergoing an MRI, it was confirmed that Luis Chávez has suffered a rupture of the ACL in his right knee,” read the official statement. The injury not only sidelines him from the rest of the tournament - where Mexico are chasing a record 10th title - but also rules him out of the team’s scheduled friendlies later this year against South Korea, Japan, and potentially Ecuador.

Chávez started and played the full 90 minutes in Mexico’s match against Costa Rica, making the diagnosis especially surprising. His absence will be a blow to Javier Aguirre’s squad, who are currently in the final stretch of preparations for their quarterfinal clash against Saudi Arabia this Saturday.

Beyond national team implications, the injury could affect Chávez’s club career. Reports had linked him with a possible return to Liga MX, with Tigres rumored to be interested. However, the long-term recovery timeline makes any immediate transfer unlikely, meaning the midfielder will likely remain with Dynamo Moscow as he focuses on rehabilitation.

The setback is particularly untimely for Chávez, who had been gradually growing into a key figure for both club and country.