The Serious Injury Ayoub El Kaabi Suffered in Greece That Has Shocked the Football World

The Olympiacos striker was forced to leave the pitch after a frightening collision that quickly made headlines around the world. Here are all the details.

he football world was left stunned by Ayoub El Kaabi’s serious injury. The Olympiacos striker had to leave the match against Volos on a stretcher during Matchday 3 of the Greek Super League after a painful collision with goalkeeper Marios Siampanis.

WHAT HAPPENED?

The incident occurred shortly before halftime. El Kaabi challenged for a ball inside the box and managed to get a touch before Siampanis came off his line. The goalkeeper then landed on the striker’s left leg.

The impact caused El Kaabi’s leg to bend in a worrying position. The striker remained on the pitch in obvious pain as teammates and opponents immediately called for medical assistance.

The incident also deeply affected Volos goalkeeper Siampanis, who was left in tears and visibly devastated by what had happened. According to reports, the injury resulted from a challenge for the ball and was not intentional.

El Kaabi was carried off on a stretcher and later taken to a hospital for further examinations. The concern grew as the apparent severity of the injury became clear.

HOW SERIOUS IS EL KAABI’S INJURY?

The worst fears were confirmed. Medical tests revealed that Ayoub El Kaabi suffered a fractured tibia in his left leg and will require surgery.

There is currently no official recovery timeline, as his absence will depend on the surgery and his rehabilitation. However, a fracture of this nature is expected to keep him out for an extended period and will require a cautious return to football.

The injury is a major blow for Olympiacos, who lose one of their key attacking players. El Kaabi, who wears the No. 9 shirt, renewed his contract with the Greek club in March and finished as the team’s top scorer during the 2025-26 season, scoring 21 goals in 40 appearances.

MESSAGES OF SUPPORT FOR EL KAABI

The injury immediately changed the plans for Armando “Hormiga” González. The Mexican forward was on the bench and had to intensify his warm-up before replacing El Kaabi in the second half.

The former Chivas striker was suddenly handed an unexpected opportunity in his European adventure: taking over for one of the most important players in the squad, although under deeply concerning circumstances.

Messages of support quickly followed the match. Olympiacos publicly backed El Kaabi and wished him a speedy recovery, saying: “The entire Olympiacos family is by your side,” while expressing confidence that he will return stronger.

Armando González also sent his support to his teammate, while the injury sparked concern in Morocco, where El Kaabi is one of the national team’s key figures.

Siampanis was also deeply affected by the incident. The goalkeeper received support from his teammates after being visibly shaken by the accident.

For El Kaabi, football now takes a back seat.

The striker must focus on his surgery and a long rehabilitation process, while Olympiacos looks for alternatives to cover an absence that directly impacts its sporting plans.

The image of the Moroccan striker leaving the pitch on a stretcher, along with the reaction of players from both teams, served as a reminder that football is about more than results—it is also about the human side of the game.