Xavi Simons has delivered a deeply personal account of the devastating ACL injury that brought one of the most important years of his career to an abrupt halt, admitting he reached a point where simply being able to walk again felt like a victory.
The Tottenham midfielder missed the 2026 FIFA World Cup after suffering a serious knee injury in April, an unfortunate setback that forced him to watch football’s biggest tournament from the sidelines instead of representing his country on the global stage.
Simons sustained the injury during Tottenham’s 1-0 victory in April, with medical examinations confirming an anterior cruciate ligament rupture that required a lengthy rehabilitation programme.
The diagnosis not only ended his club season but also shattered his dream of playing at another World Cup.
Speaking candidly on The Sports Agents podcast, the Dutch international reflected on how dramatically life changed after the injury, revealing that the experience transformed his perspective both as a footballer and as a person.
“Through the years, I’ve seen a lot of players getting injured, and you never think like, ‘Okay, this can happen to me,’” Simons said.
The midfielder explained that the true emotional impact only became clear after surgery, when everyday activities suddenly became impossible without assistance.
“So, especially after you’re, like, one week in the hospital and you cannot do anything by yourself, that’s where it hit in into my head and it said like, ‘Wow, I cannot do nothing. I can barely even walk to the toilet. I need help. Someone needs to come with me.’”
For a player accustomed to the relentless pace of elite football, losing even the simplest forms of independence proved to be one of the hardest parts of his recovery.
“So, having that impact at the moment was like… Okay, you know, my life goes so fast. Footballers’ life goes so fast that we are not conscious about little things in life.
“And at that moment, my head was like, ‘I have to be even happy just walking again and going to the toilet and even having a drink with my family.’ So, that was something that really hit into my head.”
His words offer a rare glimpse into the psychological challenges elite athletes face when long-term injuries remove not only their ability to compete but also their everyday independence.
The timing of the injury made the disappointment even more painful.
With the World Cup fast approaching, Simons believed he had an opportunity to play a major role for his national team after previously experiencing the tournament on the international stage.
Instead, he was left watching from afar as teammates competed without him.
“The two days, first days, was really hard, especially because at the moment that we were with the club with Tottenham, and the World Cup was coming as well for me, and I’ve played one World Cup, but this World Cup was a little bit different because I really could help the team to achieve the goal.”
Despite the heartbreak, Simons has made encouraging progress in his rehabilitation and says he is now in a far better place mentally and physically than he was during those difficult early weeks.
For Tottenham, the midfielder’s recovery remains a major priority. Before his injury, Simons had established himself as one of the club’s most influential creative players, combining technical brilliance with relentless energy in midfield.
While there is still work to be done before he returns to competitive action, his latest comments suggest the hardest phase of his recovery is now behind him.
More importantly, the experience has given Simons a renewed appreciation for life beyond football.
Missing the World Cup will always remain a painful chapter in his career, but the Dutch star appears determined to use the setback as motivation rather than allowing it to define him.
As he continues the long road back to full fitness, Tottenham supporters will be hoping the gifted midfielder returns stronger, wiser and ready to rediscover the form that made him one of Europe’s brightest talents.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
