Tottenham Hotspur and England midfielder James Maddison has delivered an emotional account of his recent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, describing it as the “lowest low I’ve ever had,” following surgery and amid the bleak prospect of missing most of the 2025–26 season.
In a heartfelt post from his hospital bed, shared on Instagram, the 28-year-old laid bare his devastation. “Lowest low I’ve ever had. Heartbroken at the fact this injury has occurred at this time in my career,” Maddison wrote, lamenting the cruel timing of a key injury in a World Cup year and on the heels of Spurs’ return to Europe’s elite competitions.
His caption continued to capture the emotional toll: “With the Super Cup tomorrow, the Premier League season on the horizon, the exciting Champions League campaign and it being a World Cup year for England, it all feels very very cruel but nevertheless the ACL reconstruction surgery was successful.”
Maddison implored fans and followers to bear with him through recovery, thanking his family—particularly partner Kennedy Alexa and children Leo, Delilah, and Roma—alongside friends, supporters, and even critics who he said motivate him. “To those of you who doubt, hate and mock. You truly motivate me to levels I didn’t know I had inside of me so again, thank you. See you all on the other side.”
Tottenham confirmed the injury, which occurred during a pre-season friendly against Newcastle United in Seoul, as a ruptured ACL in his right knee.
Maddison was stretchered off in what many viewed as a distressing moment for both player and club. The statement from Spurs indicated he would undergo surgery imminently, followed by a lengthy rehabilitation period under the club’s medical staff.
Initial projections suggest that Maddison could be sidelined for six to nine months—effectively ruling him out of the upcoming season’s major fixtures including the Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain, the Premier League, Champions League, and potentially jeopardizing his place in England’s World Cup squad.
From the manager’s perspective, the blow is particularly punishing. Head coach Thomas Frank described Maddison’s absence as “disappointing but also devastating… we will miss him and no doubt he will miss playing football.”
With Maddison out of action, Tottenham face a creative void in the midfield. The club has reportedly accelerated its search for replacements.
This setback follows an already injury-marred period for Maddison. Earlier in May, he suffered a knee issue that caused him to miss crucial fixtures, including the Europa League final, which Spurs ultimately won without him.
In a lighter moment ahead of these developments, Maddison had even responded cheekily to critics last season.
After Tottenham’s Europa League triumph, he called on pundit Simon Jordan to “eat some humble pie” in reference to pre-final jibes that questioned his ability to win major trophies—demonstrating both his self-belief and growing sense of personality on and off the field.