Moroccan player Zakaria Labyad, who plays for Brazilian club Corinthians, has been confirmed to be out until the end of the current season, after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
The 33-year-old midfielder needs to undergo surgery in the coming days, followed by a long period of medical treatment and rehabilitation, which will likely see him miss all of Corinthians' remaining matches in the 2025-2026 season, which continues in Brazil until next December.
This serious injury occurred during Corinthians' match against Atletico Paranaense in the twenty-first round of the Brazilian league, which ended in a goalless draw.
Labied left the field visibly affected after his knee twisted suddenly while trying to dribble past a player from the opposing team.
Following the match, Corinthians coach Fernando Diniz did not hide his dissatisfaction with the state of the pitch, suggesting that it was the main reason behind the injury.
Deniz said at the press conference: "It is very likely that Zakaria's serious injury was caused by the poor condition of the pitch."
It is worth noting that Labyad, a former Moroccan international player, joined Corinthians last February from the Chinese league.
The veteran player has previously had prominent professional experiences with several clubs, most notably the Dutch club Ajax Amsterdam.
