FIFA World Cup 2026: Ismael Kone thanks fans after suffering broken leg in Canada's win over Qatar
Vancouver, June 20
Canada midfielder Ismael Kone thanked God, his teammates, and supporters after suffering a broken leg during his team's 6-0 win over Qatar in a World Cup 2026 Group B match.
The 24-year-old sustained the injury following a heavy second-half challenge from Qatar's Assim Madibo and later underwent surgery to repair the fracture.
"Your love and support has been felt, honestly thank you so much. You can't even imagine, how grateful I am to everyone who reached out and has me in their prayers. I thank god for that because not everyone is this fortunate," Kone wrote on Instagram on Friday, as quoted by Reuters.
Several of Kone's teammates were left in shock as he received medical attention on the field before his leg was placed in an inflatable support system for emergency stabilisation.
"I wanted you to know that I love you guys from the bottom of my heart and our brotherhood is everything to me," Kone wrote further in his social media post.
"What you guys did yesterday will stay with me forever. I'll be back very soon and we'll keep making more memories together," he added.
Kone was stretchered off in the second half of his side's match against Qatar at BC Place in Vancouver after sustaining a serious-looking injury.
The 24-year-old appeared to suffer the setback following a heavy challenge from Qatar midfielder Assim Madibo. The tackle from behind immediately raised concern on the pitch, with players quickly calling for medical attention and surrounding Kone as he received treatment, according to ESPN.
After a VAR review, Madibo was shown a straight red card for dangerous play and sent off. Qatar were further reduced to nine men after Homam Al Amin had already been dismissed earlier in the first half.
Kone received applause from the BC Place crowd as he was carefully carried off the field for further evaluation and treatment.
Despite the incident, Canada remained firmly in control of the match. Midfielder Nathan Saliba, who replaced Kone in the 57th minute, later paid tribute by holding up Kone's shirt after scoring Canada's fourth goal.
The match was overshadowed by the injury, but saw Canada deliver a dominant performance, thrashing Qatar 6-0 to register their first-ever World Cup win in the competition.
Jonathan David starred with a historic hat-trick--the first by a Canadian in World Cup history--while Cyle Larin opened the scoring early in the first half. Canada also benefited from a Qatar own goal, as the visitors struggled to cope with the pace and intensity of the match.
The match ended with Qatar reduced further due to disciplinary setbacks, marking a one-sided contest in Canada's favour despite the serious injury to Kone.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The way his teammates honored him by holding up his jersey after scoring really touched me. That's true brotherhood. Wishing him a full recovery—football needs players like him. Also, Canada's first World Cup win—historic!
That tackle was absolutely reckless. I get that football is physical, but a straight red was the only right decision. Madibo should face further sanctions. This sort of challenge ruins careers. Hope FIFA tightens up on dangerous play.
The crowd applauding him off the field—that's the spirit of sportsmanship. And Kone thanking God and everyone shows how grounded he is. Get well soon, champ! 🙏✨
From a Canadian fan—this win felt bittersweet. Kone is such a crucial player for us, and seeing him go down like that was devastating. But the team rallied for him, and Jonathan David's hat-trick was world-class. Speedy recovery, Ismael!
One match, two red cards for Qatar and a 6-0 defeat—they really lost their cool. I hope this serves as a lesson about discipline. Injuries are part of the game, but players need to respect each other's safety. Kudos to Canada for the dominant win!
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.