Chinese striker Wu Lei is set to undergo knee surgery that will sideline him for at least two months. The 31-year-old forward has been grappling with a persistent right knee injury, which has already forced him to miss China’s last two 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers—a 1-0 victory over Bahrain and a 3-1 defeat to Japan in November.
Wu was absent from the national team’s current training camp in Haikou, south China’s Hainan Province. Initially hoping to avoid surgery through conservative treatment, he acknowledged that an operation is now unavoidable. “The problem won’t go away completely without an operation,” Wu told reporters. “It’s very disturbing. If I don’t have an operation, it will get worse than last year.”
He is currently discussing the procedure and his post-surgery rehabilitation plan with his club, Shanghai Port. The anticipated recovery time means Wu will miss China’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers on March 20 against Saudi Arabia and on March 25 against Australia.
Wu Lei is one of China’s most prominent football stars, having previously played for Spanish club Espanyol before returning to the Chinese Super League. His absence is a significant blow to China’s ambitions in the World Cup qualifiers, leaving fans hopeful for his swift recovery.
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Chinese striker Wu Lei to have knee surgery, miss at least two months
cgtn.com
