Colombian Soccer Star Radamel Falcao Injures Left Knee, Likely To Miss World Cup

AS Monaco's Colombian star forward, Radamel Falcao falls during a match against Nantes, Dec. 24, 2013. (ap)

MONACO (AP) – Monaco says star forward Radamel Falcao will have surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, an injury that could cause the Colombian to miss this year's World Cup.

A 27-year-old who finished 11th in FIFA Player of the Year voting this month, Falcao left the field on a stretcher Wednesday night after getting hurt when tackled by defender Soner Ertek during a French Cup match against the amateur club Chasselay.

Monaco says in a statement Thursday that "the player will have surgery in next few days. Doctors will do everything possible to speed up recovery."

ACL surgery usually requires a recovery time of about six months, and Colombia plays its World Cup opener against Greece on June 14. Japan and Ivory Coast also are in Group C.

The injury would appear to be a big blow for the Colombian national team, which is currently No. 4 in the FIFA world rankings, but inclusion as one of the seeded teams for the World Cup in Brazil has been questioned.

English national team winger Theo Walcott will miss the tournament after tearing his left ACL while playing for Arsenal against Tottenham in an FA Cup match on Jan. 4.