LA Galaxy's Riqui Puig Faces Knee Surgery, 2026 Uncertain

The LA Galaxy announced Friday that star midfielder Riqui Puig will undergo surgery on his left knee Saturday, casting uncertainty over his availability for the 2026 Major League Soccer season. The 26-year-old Spaniard, a key figure in the team's 2024 championship run, suffered a setback in his recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament while visiting Barcelona, Spain, during the holidays.

Puig originally tore his ACL in the 2024 Western Conference final against the Seattle Sounders on November 30, 2024. Despite the injury, he assisted the game's only goal in a 1-0 victory, helping the Galaxy advance. The team went on to win its sixth MLS Cup title a week later without him in the final. After initial surgery at the end of 2024, Puig missed the entire 2025 season as he rehabilitated. The Galaxy had hoped for a return in the fall of that year, but by then, the team was out of playoff contention and opted to keep him sidelined.

Consultations with the club's medical staff and external specialists led to the decision for a second procedure on the same knee. Details on the recovery timeline will be set after the surgery, the Galaxy said in a statement. If doctors deem Puig...