March 18 (Reuters) – Canada and Portland Thorns ahead Janine Beckie will miss this yr’s Ladies’s World Cup after she confirmed on Friday that she has torn the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her proper knee.

In a press release on their web site, reigning Nationwide Ladies’s Soccer League (NWSL) champions Thorns stated Beckie will miss the rest of the 2023 season and added that she is going to “have surgical procedure within the coming weeks to restore the harm.”

The 28-year-old, who was a part of the Olympic gold medal-winning crew on the Tokyo Video games in 2021, has scored 36 objectives in 101 appearances for Canada.

“Heartbroken is an understatement,” Beckie, who has additionally performed for Manchester Metropolis and Houston Sprint, stated in a put up on Instagram.

“Having labored so exhausting throughout low season for what was set to be one of many largest seasons of my profession, defending the title for Thorns and naturally enjoying within the World Cup for Canada, being out for an prolonged time frame is a tough tablet to swallow.

“I will be supporting my crew mates for each membership and nation this season and it goes with out saying I will be again higher and stronger than ever!”

Beckie’s harm shall be a giant blow for Canada, who wish to win their maiden World Cup at this yr’s showpiece occasion, which is being co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia from July 20 to Aug. 20.

They start their marketing campaign in Group B in opposition to Nigeria on July 21 earlier than going through Eire and hosts Australia.

Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Modifying by William Mallard

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Belief Rules.