RUBEN LOFTUS-CHEEK FRACTURES JAW: AC MILAN STAR HOSPITALIZED AFTER SICKENING SAN SIRO COLLISION
A brutal blow: Discover the details of Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s fractured jaw and why he’s missing England's March friendlies.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek has opened up about the brutal injuries he suffered after a nasty head clash while playing for AC Milan. He’s now facing at least two months out.
Last night at the San Siro, Loftus-Cheek collided with Parma’s goalkeeper, Edoardo Corvi, going up for a ball. He was taken off the pitch on a stretcher, neck and head strapped tightly. It looked bad right away. Now it’s confirmed: he broke his jaw and lost several teeth. He ended up in the hospital, and doctors say he’ll need around eight weeks to recover.
That rules him out of England’s upcoming friendlies against Uruguay and Japan scheduled for the end of March.
Milan released a statement: Loftus-Cheek suffered “significant facial trauma” and had a fractured jaw. Surgeons at ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo performed the surgery, and the club reports that it went perfectly. He’s already been discharged from the hospital.
Loftus-Cheek posted on Instagram, “It was a tough blow, but the worst is behind me.” He thanked the medical staff, fans, and his teammates, saying their support gave him strength. “We are a team; we are a family. Now, forward towards our goals, strong and united, together.”
Milan lost 1-0 without him, which leaves them in second place in Serie A, ten points behind their big rivals, Inter.
Loftus-Cheek, who grew up in London, has played 27 games for Milan this season, scoring three goals and picking up an assist. He’s now in his third year at the club and just six matches away from hitting 100 appearances.
Before moving to Italy, he spent nearly a decade in and around Chelsea’s first team, with loan spells at Crystal Palace and Fulham. After 19 years at Chelsea, where he progressed through their academy, he joined Milan in June 2023 for £15 million.
He’s played for England 11 times since debuting in 2017, but was out of the squad for six years before Thomas Tuchel, now England’s manager, called him back last September to fill in for Adam Wharton.
Back then, Loftus-Cheek admitted he’d stopped thinking about England selection: “You still want to push in club football, hoping you might get a look-in. But honestly, I just forgot about it and became a fan instead.”
He’s played all over the pitch under Tuchel, sometimes higher up, closer to the striker, and other times deeper in midfield. Asked if his versatility might help his World Cup chances, Loftus-Cheek said, “Who knows? I can play different positions. Since joining AC Milan, I’ve played higher up to score goals and help the team in the final third. Under Tuchel, I played deeper. I can do both, and in a tournament, being versatile is a good thing. I’m happy to play anywhere for the team and give it everything, whatever the position.”
PULISIC HITS BACK: MILAN STAR SHUTS DOWN 2026 GOAL DROUGHT CONCERNS
"I haven't stopped dreaming." Christian Pulisic addresses his goal drought and the frustration of missing out on the Gold Cup squad.
Christian Pulisic isn’t holding back. When critics started questioning his recent form and worried about his 2026 goal drought, he shut them down, calling those concerns “bad questions". The AC Milan forward, fresh off his Time magazine cover, still trusts his ability to step up for the USMNT as they gear up to co-host the World Cup.
All eyes are on him.
The U.S. is set to share the stage for the 2026 World Cup, and Pulisic is set to become the go-to guy for the national team. Landing on the cover of Time isn’t something soccer stars from America get every day, and it just shows how big a deal he’s become, especially after proving himself in Europe. But right as people are finally giving him mainstream recognition, he’s under the microscope for not putting up his usual numbers in front of the goal.
He’s not fazed by the dip.
When Time asked about his goal drought and how he’s handling not scoring for club or country this year, Pulisic didn’t mince words; he’s not sweating it. “I plan on scoring goals. Such bad questions. I’m not concerned about it, man.” You can hear the confidence in his voice.
Dealing with the noise
Pulisic admits this stretch feels extra tough. Missing out on last June’s Gold Cup squad hurt him, mostly because he’s used to shutting people up with his play. “Normally, I just go out there and score, and that quiets everybody. Right now, I’m in my offseason, so everyone’s talking, and I can’t do anything about it. That’s what’s frustrating.”
For Pulisic, attacking is everything. “Going at the goal, creating attacks, that’s what I live for. Sure, you have to do all the other stuff: defend, run, whatever. That’s fine. But what really gives me joy is finding ways to score and actually scoring.”
Chasing the dream
The U.S. opens their World Cup run against Paraguay at the SoFi Stadium on June 12, and Pulisic will lead the team right here at home. He doesn’t like making big public predictions, but at 27, he keeps that childhood dream alive. “That’s just not how I work. But I’ll lie in bed and imagine myself holding the World Cup trophy. I did that when I was a kid, and I haven’t stopped. You need to believe. Why not?”
WHY DID LAUTARO MARTINEZ REJECT A CAREER-DEFINING MOVE TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE?
"I love Milan." Read why 28-year-old Lautaro Martinez rejected Manchester United and Arsenal to stay at the San Siro in 2026.
Inter captain Lautaro Martinez has clearly put an end to any speculation about leaving San Siro, making it known that he has no plans to entertain offers from Europe’s top clubs. Even with regular links to teams like Barcelona, Manchester United, and Arsenal, the Argentine forward is fully committed to what’s happening in Milan.
Martinez has been quite vocal about his dedication to Inter amid constant rumours about his future. Despite frequent connections to some of the biggest clubs on the continent, he insists there’s no reason for him to move on from the current Serie A champions.
Media reports have often tied him to Barcelona, PSG, Arsenal, and Manchester United. But through various transfer windows, Martinez has consistently pushed back on the idea of leaving Inter. At 28, he remains a key figure in the team’s current setup and has stepped up as the club’s captain and on-field leader.
In an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio, Martinez expressed his loyalty to Inter’s project. He made it clear that he isn’t interested in changing clubs despite the speculation.
He said, “No, because I am faithful to the Inter project, I feel at home here. My family is happy, we have a restaurant in the city, and we love Milan. From the first day, everyone treated me in a way I didn’t think possible. I achieved so many personal and team goals here.”
Success on the pitch seems to deepen his connection to the club. Inter recently secured another league title and continues to chase trophies, including the Coppa Italia. On an individual level, Martinez is eyeing the Capocannoniere prize as Serie A’s top scorer. His steady performances underline why he’s considered one of the most reliable forwards in European football.
Since his move from Racing Club in 2018, Martinez has become the defining presence in Inter’s modern lineup. With 173 goals over 372 competitive games, it’s clear how vital he is to the team.
Looking ahead, the club sees Martinez as a central piece in their long-term plans. His leadership and scoring ability make him hard to replace. Settled both on and off the field in Milan, he seems set on continuing his story at the Giuseppe Meazza, despite ongoing interest from Europe’s elite clubs.
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