Hugo Ekitike will miss the World Cup after suffering an injury against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday night, the France Football Federation and Liverpool have confirmed.
The Liverpool forward left the pitch on a stretcher and in tears after just 22 minutes of the quarterfinal second leg at Anfield.
A source close to Ekitike told ESPN that Ekitike has ruptured his Achilles tendon and would be sidelined for at least nine months.
"Unfortunately, the severity of [Ekitike's] injury will prevent him from finishing the season with Liverpool and taking part in the World Cup," France national team manager Didier Deschamps said in a statement from FFF on Wednesday.
"This injury is a huge blow for him, of course, but also for the French national team.
"I wanted to express my full support for him, as well as that of the entire coaching staff."
On Thursday, a Liverpool statement said: "Liverpool FC can confirm Hugo Ekitike has sustained a serious Achilles injury.
"The forward had to be substituted during the first half of Tuesday's Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield after a slip on the turf.
"Scans on the issue have subsequently confirmed a rupture of the Achilles tendon.
"Ekitike will therefore be sidelined for the remaining weeks of the club season and unable to participate at this summer's World Cup with France.
"Further updates will be provided at the appropriate time, with Hugo receiving the full support of everyone at LFC."
A source added to ESPN that Ekitike said he heard his Achilles snap before collapsing on the ground in pain on Tuesday.
Scans on Wednesday were done to discover whether the rupture is full or partial.
The recovery time for a ruptured Achilles tendon is between nine and 12 months.
The Frenchman's injury is a massive blow for the Reds in their final push toward a top-five finish in the Premier League, and for France, for whom Ekitike, 23, would have featured at the World Cup in the summer.
He scored for France in its 2-1 win against Brazil last month.
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The club is already working on a plan for his surgery and then his rehabilitation process, the source said.
The former PSG striker arrived on Merseyside last summer and had an immediate impact with 17 goals and six assists in all competitions in his first season at the club.