Cristian Romero was ruled out for the remainder of Tottenham Hotspur's 2025/26 season after suffering a serious knee injury during the 1-0 Premier League defeat at Sunderland.
The Tottenham captain was forced off after a collision involving goalkeeper Antonín Kinský and Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey. Romero was visibly emotional as he left the pitch, immediately raising concerns over the severity of the problem.
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How Long Was Cristian Romero Expected to Be Out?
Initial reports from Argentina suggested Romero could be unavailable for five to eight weeks. BBC Sport later reported that tests indicated a high-grade partial tear of the medial collateral ligament in his knee, with a recovery period potentially lasting up to eight weeks.
Tottenham subsequently confirmed that Romero would not play again during the 2025/26 season. His absence was especially significant because Spurs were fighting to avoid relegation during the final weeks of the campaign.
Was Romero Guaranteed to Return for the World Cup?
No. The five-to-eight-week recovery estimate created hope that Romero could recover before Argentina's 2026 World Cup campaign, but his availability was not guaranteed at the time.
Sky Sports cautioned that reports suggesting he would definitely be ready for the tournament were not completely accurate, while the BBC described his World Cup prospects as uncertain. The safer conclusion was that the injury left Romero facing a race to regain full fitness rather than guaranteeing his availability for Argentina.
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How Did Tottenham Replace Romero?
Tottenham still had several central-defensive options. After confirming Romero's season was over, head coach Roberto De Zerbi specifically pointed to Radu Drăgușin and Kevin Danso as defenders capable of stepping in. Micky van de Ven also assumed greater responsibility.
Van de Ven went on to captain Tottenham for the final six matches following Romero's injury. Spurs eventually secured Premier League survival, finishing 17th after beating Everton on the final day. That makes the original suggestion that Van de Ven could help fill the leadership void reasonable, but describing him as Tottenham's only replacement would have been misleading given the other centre-back options available.
Why Romero's Injury Mattered
Romero's absence removed one of Tottenham's most experienced defenders and their captain during a critical relegation battle. The injury therefore created two problems for Spurs: replacing his defensive qualities and replacing his leadership during the final weeks of a difficult season.
Van de Ven ultimately took on more of that responsibility, while Tottenham used their remaining defensive depth to navigate the run-in and preserve their Premier League status.