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Riqui Puig Undergoes Second ACL Surgery, Will Miss 2026 MLS Season

The setback forces roster recalculations that likely free a Designated Player slot.

Overview

  • LA Galaxy confirmed a successful left‑knee ACL reconstruction in Barcelona performed by Dr. Ramon Cugat, with a targeted return ahead of the 2027 campaign.
  • Puig wrote that the previous graft “wasn’t right,” describing the news as one of the toughest moments of his life but saying the new surgery went well.
  • The club is expected to place him on the season‑ending injury list, opening a DP spot and easing salary‑cap impact, according to the Los Angeles Times.
  • Coach Greg Vanney has underscored Puig’s outsized influence on the team, and the Galaxy’s 2025 slide without him underscores the urgency to identify a replacement playmaker.
  • Offseason plans had assumed his comeback as the club added defenders Jakob Glesnes and Justin Haak, while Puig remains under contract through December 2027.