Moïse Bombito published a photo next to Ismaël Koné in the hospital after the serious injury suffered by the midfielder during the match between Canada and Qatar for the 2026 World Cup.
In the stories on his social media profile, the Canadian national team defender shared a selfie alongside his teammate. In the image, the two appear smiling and making the peace sign with their fingers.
Midfielder Koné, from the Canadian National Team, fractured his tibia and fibula, two bones in his leg, in the move that shocked the world during the match between Canadian team and Qatar for the second round of 2026 World Cup, on Thursday night (18). The information was released by journalist Fabrizio Romano.
At the beginning of the second half, he received a tackle from Madibo, who caused the injury. The move generated immediate despair on the field, with players from both teams holding their heads in their hands as they realized the gravity of the situation.
Warning: the following images may be considered strong for some people.
While Koné received medical attention, athletes from Canada gathered on the pitch visibly shaken. Striker Jonathan David even cried during the stoppage.
Removed from the field on a stretcher, Koné left the field to the applause of the fans present in Vancouver. The episode also caused confusion between members of the reserve benches of the two teams.
Who is Koné, Canadian midfielder
At the moment, Koné, 24, plays for Sassuoloin the Italian championship. The player was born in Côte d’Ivoire, but chose to play for the Canadian national team, where he was playing his second game in the World Cup.
The player began his professional career at CF Montréal in 2021. Before Sassuolo, Koné played for French clubs Marseille and Rennesfrom the first division. He also played for two seasons on Watfordthe English Championship.
Difficult career start
According to the website “The Score”Koné tried out for clubs in Belgium, at the age of 18, but was unable to secure a transfer. His belated professional debut came against Mexico’s Santos Laguna in February 2022, and less than a month later, Canada called him up.
Em 2010, At just 7 years old, his mother made the difficult decision to emigrate to Canada in search of a better life, when he finally emerged in the sport.
Tributes for Koné immediately after injury
After Koné’s injury, William Saliba scored Canada’s fourth goal in the match against Qatar. During the celebration, the striker paid tribute to his teammate.
As a form of affection behind the wheel, Saliba ran towards the stands holding Koné’s shirt, while the fans applauded the gesture. The attacker also made the figure eight sign with his hands, in reference to the number used by the midfielder.
