Spanish midfielder Riqui Puig will miss a second consecutive Major League Soccer season after undergoing a second reconstructive surgery on his left knee, the Los Angeles Galaxy confirmed on Saturday.
Puig, 26, who joined the Galaxy from Barcelona in 2022, had already missed the entire 2025 MLS campaign following a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) sustained in the 2024 MLS Cup Western Conference final, forcing him to sit out the Galaxy’s title-clinching victory in the MLS Cup final a week later.
The midfielder had returned to training last autumn, but the Galaxy announced on Friday that Puig had suffered a setback requiring another procedure.
“Riqui Puig has undergone a successful anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructive surgery on his left knee, just over a year after a similar procedure in late 2024,” the team said in a statement. “Puig is expected to make a full recovery and be ready to rejoin the team for the start of the 2027 MLS season.”
Puig addressed the situation on Instagram, describing the moment he learned of the setback during a medical check-up.
“The graft wasn’t right, and I had to go back to the operating room,” he wrote. “It’s not easy to find the words after everything I’ve been through. Without a doubt, it’s one of the hardest and most complicated moments I’ve had to deal with in my life, both personally and professionally. But today I can say that the operation went well, and that gives me strength and peace of mind to look ahead.”
The former Barcelona La Masia academy product added: “Now I only have one thing on my mind: to start working right away, train with more enthusiasm than ever, and try to become the Riqui Puig you all know again. With more desire, more hunger, and more strength.”
Since arriving in the United States, Puig has featured in 82 matches across all competitions for the Galaxy, scoring 29 goals and providing 32 assists. His absence in 2025 was felt keenly as the team managed just seven wins across the campaign.
While the Galaxy will have to navigate the 2026 season without their midfield talisman, Puig’s message remains one of hope and determination, with an eye firmly on a strong return at the start of the 2027 MLS season.
