Porto's Samu Aghehowa eyes Spain return after ACL injury

Samu Aghehowa has set his sights on a Spain return after revealing the psychological toll of missing the 2026 World Cup during his recovery from a cruciate ligament rupture.

The 22-year-old Porto forward suffered the serious knee injury in February, ending a run of strong club form and forcing him through a 223-day absence just as a place in Luis de la Fuente’s senior squad appeared within reach. Aghehowa is now back on the pitch and says the priority is rebuilding match sharpness for Porto before pushing again for La Roja.

“Thank God the nightmare is over,” Aghehowa said. “What matters is that I feel like a footballer again and can enjoy what I love most. If you follow the right process, you eventually see the end of the tunnel. It is a very difficult injury and you have to do things properly to prevent setbacks. I even feel better than I did before. I am thankful to Porto’s medical staff and to the people close to me.”

The former Granada striker said his first thought after receiving the diagnosis was the World Cup, an objective he had carried since his reserve-team days in Granada. He felt the tournament had become a realistic target after a positive season, making the injury particularly painful.

“Before I was even a professional, when I was playing for Granada’s B team, I had already made it a goal to be at the next World Cup,” he said. “To have it so close and then lose it through bad luck was very hard. Now I feel well, and the key is to get my rhythm back.”

World Cup pain and Spain support

Aghehowa initially found it impossible to watch the tournament. Spain’s opening match was played in Seville while he was at home, but he stayed upstairs as his mother watched the game below. He said he could not bring himself to follow any of the early matches because he could picture himself among the squad.

Friends invited him to watch matches with them, but he repeatedly declined before gradually beginning to accept the situation. By the time Spain reached Portugal, he was able to watch again, although he admitted the experience still hurt.

De la Fuente contacted the forward several times during his rehabilitation, a gesture Aghehowa described as deeply appreciated. The Spanish Football Federation also invited him to New York for the World Cup final against Argentina.

The call came while Porto were on a pre-season training camp in England. Aghehowa said he received the invitation after a training session, was immediately nervous and accepted without hesitation. He spent several days in New York and said the federation’s support meant a great deal.

The Paris 2024 Olympic gold medallist now wants to re-establish himself at Porto in domestic and European competition, then force his way back into a Spain attack packed with competition. His immediate international target is clear: a return to the squad and his first senior goal for the national team.

“Since the injury, my aim has been to compete at a high level again,” he said. “I hope to return to the national team as soon as possible, although I know it is very difficult because there is so much competition. I want to play plenty of games and see whether I can get that first goal, because it has escaped me so far. I hope it comes with Spain soon.”