Luis Chávez: successful surgery

Luis Chávez, a player for the Mexican national team, underwent successful surgery for a right knee injury, the Mexican Football Federation announced yesterday.

Chávez, 25, was injured during a Mexican national team training session last Wednesday, prior to the Gold Cup quarterfinal match against Saudi Arabia. After undergoing an MRI, it was reported that he had torn his anterior cruciate ligament.

The Dynamo Moscow player from Russia had played for Mexico in two of the three matches in the first phase of the CONCACAF Nations Competition.

His injury rules him out of the tournament and will keep him off the courts for at least the next six months.

“I'm fine. Beyond the injury, I'm comfortable with the surgery,” Chávez said before the procedure. “It will depend on how the operation goes, but I hope to be in time for the World Cup,” the midfielder added.

Dr. Rafael Ortega, chief physician for the Mexican national team, performed the operation in Guadalajara.

"We think he could be ready to play in January, so he'd have time to show off," said Dr. Ortega. "I have great faith he can be a World Cup player," the specialist added.

Chávez was a World Cup player for the first time in Qatar 2022. He started in all three of Mexico's matches and scored once.

The next World Cup will kick off on June 11 at the Azteca Stadium.

Mexico will play against Honduras tomorrow.— AP