AC Milan confirms Santi Gimenez's surgery: Will the Mexican national team striker miss the 2026 World Cup?

AC Milan have officially announced that Santiago Gimenez has undergone surgery in Amsterdam as part of the treatment to solve the physical problems he was suffering with his right ankle.

The operation consisted of an arthroscopy to clean the affected joint and was successfully performed under the supervision of Professor Gino Kerkhoffs, in coordination with the medical staff of the Italian club.

First phase of recovery outside Italy

According to the statement issued by the Rossoneri, the Mexican striker will remain in the Netherlands for about a week, where he will complete the first stage of his post-operative process

Once this initial phase is completed, he will return to Italy to continue his rehabilitation at Milan's facilities and under the direct supervision of the club's medical staff.

Santi Gimenez: Estimated recovery time

As for the recovery period, Milan were clear that Gimenez will be out of action for a minimum of two months, although his return will depend on the progress he shows in each stage of the treatment.

The main objective is for the striker to return to competition in optimal physical condition and without the risk of relapse, avoiding a hasty return.

An injury that had been present since October

The former Feyenoord player has not played an official match since the end of October , when he suffered the injury during a Serie A match against Atalanta

Since then, the coaching staff opted for a conservative treatment, but the persistence of the discomfort finally led to the decision to perform surgery to definitively resolve the problem in the right ankle.

A challenge for Milan in a key stretch

The absence of Santiago Gimenez represents a major challenge for AC Milan, who will be without one of their main attacking players at a key point in the season.

This situation could influence the club's sporting planning, especially with a view to the transfer market, where the arrival of reinforcements to cover his temporary absence is not ruled out.

Could Santi Gimenez miss the 2026 World Cup?

Despite initial concerns, Gimenez is not at risk of missing the 2026 World Cup with the Mexican national team , coached by Javier Aguirre. The estimated recovery time is between six and eight weeks , which will allow him to return to action in plenty of time for international commitments ahead of the World Cup.