Cristian Romero Out for Season With Knee Injury: Blow for Tottenham

Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero will miss the remainder of the Premier League season after sustaining a significant knee injury during the club’s 1-0 defeat to Sunderland on Sunday, April 12, 2026.

Following medical tests, the Argentina defender was diagnosed with a high-grade partial tear of his medial cruciate ligament. He is expected to be sidelined for up to eight weeks, ruling him out of Tottenham’s final six fixtures of the campaign.

Injury Incident at the Stadium of Light

The injury occurred during the second half of the match at the Stadium of Light. Romero was pushed in the back by Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey, resulting in a collision with his own goalkeeper, Antonin Kinsky.

Romero was visibly upset and left the pitch in tears. He was subsequently replaced by Kevin Danso as the club’s medical staff attended to the defender.

Impact on Tottenham’s Relegation Battle

The loss of the captain is a significant blow for newly-appointed head coach Roberto de Zerbi. Tottenham currently sit 18th in the Premier League table, placing them in the relegation zone.

The club remains two points behind West Ham, who are currently situated just above the drop zone. With only six league games remaining, the loss of a key defensive leader complicates Spurs’ efforts to avoid relegation.

Speaking after the match, Roberto de Zerbi described Romero as a crucial player and a good player with a big personality.

The injury to Romero adds to the squad’s current fitness struggles. De Zerbi confirmed on Friday, April 10, 2026, that forward Mohammed Kudus has suffered a fresh quad injury, further limiting the options available to the manager.

World Cup Prospects

While Romero’s club season has ended, his availability for Argentina’s World Cup title defense in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada this summer remains a point of contention among reports.

Some sources suggest a recovery window of five to eight weeks, which could potentially allow the defender to return to full fitness in time for the tournament. However, other reports indicate that claims of a guaranteed return for the World Cup may not be entirely accurate, leaving his international participation uncertain.

Romero has made 155 appearances for Tottenham in all competitions prior to this injury.