Watch Canada’s tribute to injured Ismael Kone after veteran midfielder exits game with gruesome leg injury originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
What was otherwise going to be a terrific day for Canada at the 2026 World Cup took a bad turn on Thursday when Ismael Kone went down with a gruesome leg injury.
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After a tackle that resulted in a second red card for Qatar, Kone was left lying on the pitch with his lower left leg visibly out of place — a major injury that will likely end his time playing in the tournament. But in the moments afterward, Canada also had one of the more emotional moments of the World Cup so far.
Kone’s replacement after the injury, Nathan Saliba, scored almost immediately afterward, then honored his teammate in celebration.
Here’s a look at the emotional tribute from Saliba after Kone’s scary injury in Canada vs. Qatar.
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It took a lengthy delay in Thursday’s match for Kone to leave the pitch with his left leg in an air cast while on a stretcher — but once he was heading back to the locker room and Qatar was assessed a red card, Saliba stepped onto the pitch for Canada.
On a free kick attempt, he then came through. Canada scored its fourth goal of the day as Saliba found the back of the net, and immediately after, he was seen making a No. 8 with his hands — the number of his injured teammate, Kone.
