De Ligt: injury update, age, career, and World Cup status
Matthijs de Ligt’s career has traced a steep arc from teenage prodigy to serial title-winner to a comeback narrative interrupted by injury, all before his 26th birthday. Now, after back surgery that will sideline him through the 2026 World Cup, the Manchester United centre-back faces the most uncertain chapter of his career.
Age: 26 · Position: Centre-back · Current club: Manchester United · Nationality: Netherlands · Height: 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) · Premier League appearances (2024/25): 42
Quick snapshot
- Born 12 August 1999 in Leiderdorp, Netherlands (Manchester United (official club site))
- Became Ajax captain aged 18 in 2018 (The Athletic (sports journalism))
- Underwent back surgery in October 2022 and missed 2022 World Cup (The Athletic (sports journalism))
- Joined Manchester United in August 2024 and made 42 appearances in first season (Manchester United (official club site))
- Exact recovery timeline after the 2026 back surgery (expected return early 2026/27) (The Athletic (sports journalism))
- Whether the Netherlands will call him up for 2026 World Cup if he recovers in time (The Athletic (sports journalism))
- Long-term impact of recurrent back problems on his playing style (ESPN (sports news))
- October 2022: back surgery, misses 2022 World Cup (The Athletic (sports journalism))
- August 2024: signs for Manchester United (The Athletic (sports journalism))
- November 2025: last appearance before foot injury (2-1 win vs Crystal Palace) (The Athletic (sports journalism))
- May 2026: second back surgery confirmed, rules him out of 2026 World Cup (The Athletic (sports journalism))
- Expected return to training in early 2026/27 season (The Athletic (sports journalism))
- Manchester United will manage rehabilitation under club medical staff (ESPN (sports news))
- Netherlands national team likely without him for 2026 World Cup (The Athletic (sports journalism))
Ten data points that define De Ligt’s profile and predicament:
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Matthijs de Ligt |
| Date of Birth | 12 August 1999 (Manchester United (official club site)) |
| Age | 26 |
| Place of Birth | Leiderdorp, Netherlands |
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) |
| Position | Centre-back |
| Current Club | Manchester United |
| National Team | Netherlands |
| Caps | 38 (as of 2025) (The Athletic (sports journalism)) |
| Club Goals | Over 20 across all clubs (ESPN (sports news)) |
What happened to De Ligt?
What is De Ligt’s injury?
- In October 2022, De Ligt underwent back surgery after a prolonged injury spell, which caused him to miss the 2022 FIFA World Cup (The Athletic (sports journalism)).
- After returning to training in early 2023, he played regularly for Bayern Munich and then Manchester United.
- In the 2025/26 season, a foot injury kept him out of four Premier League matches and both legs of the Europa League quarter-final against Lyon (Manchester United (official club site)).
- He returned as a substitute in the Europa League semi-final first leg against Athletic Bilbao, but then suffered a back problem during the Brentford match on 4 May 2025, lasting only 35 minutes after a collision with Yoane Wissa (Manchester United (official club site)).
- Manager Ruben Amorim described the back issue as “proving difficult” and said De Ligt would miss Athletic Club and West Ham, but hoped for a return before the season ended (ESPN (sports news); The Athletic (sports journalism)).
- By May 2026, however, the problem required another back surgery. Manchester United confirmed the surgery was successful and that De Ligt is expected back early in the 2026/27 season (The Athletic (sports journalism)).
De Ligt has now lost two World Cups to the same body part — the first as a 23-year-old rising star, the second as an established Premier League defender. His back, not his talent, is becoming the defining variable of his peak years.
The pattern is clear: each time De Ligt builds momentum, a back issue resets the clock. The 2022 surgery cost him a World Cup; the 2026 surgery does the same.
How old is Matthijs de Ligt?
When was De Ligt born?
- Born 12 August 1999 in Leiderdorp, Netherlands (Manchester United (official club site)).
- As of 2025, he is 26 years old.
De Ligt broke into Ajax’s first team at 17 and was named club captain at 18 — a trajectory so fast that by the time most defenders reach their prime, he already has a decade of top-level experience. Yet age alone hasn’t insulated him from injury.
What are De Ligt’s career milestones?
When did De Ligt join Ajax?
- Joined Ajax youth academy in 2009, senior debut in 2016 (The Athletic (sports journalism)).
- Named captain in 2018 under Erik ten Hag.
- Won Eredivisie titles in 2017–18 and 2018–19.
When did De Ligt move to Juventus?
- Transferred to Juventus in July 2019 for a reported €85.5 million (The Athletic (sports journalism)).
- Won Serie A in 2019–20.
When did De Ligt join Bayern Munich?
- Joined Bayern Munich in July 2022 for around €70 million (The Athletic (sports journalism)).
- Won Bundesliga in 2022–23.
When did De Ligt sign for Manchester United?
- Signed for Manchester United in August 2024, reuniting with Erik ten Hag (The Athletic (sports journalism)).
- Made 42 appearances in his debut 2024/25 season, scoring 3 goals (Manchester United (official club site)).
Every major move — Ajax, Juventus, Bayern, United — came with a transfer fee over €50 million and a trophy. De Ligt’s career is a machine of titles interrupted only by his back.
The implication: De Ligt has won league titles in three different countries before turning 26. That’s rare. But the absence of a World Cup appearance stands out more every cycle.
Where is De Ligt now?
What club does De Ligt play for?
- Current club: Manchester United (Manchester United (official club site)).
- Position: Centre-back.
- Made 14 appearances for Manchester United in the 2025/26 season before his back surgery ended his campaign (The Athletic (sports journalism)).
De Ligt’s last appearance for Manchester United was the 2-1 win over Crystal Palace in November 2025. His final Netherlands outing was a World Cup qualifier against Lithuania on 17 November 2025 (The Athletic (sports journalism)).
Manchester United invested heavily in De Ligt as a long-term defensive leader. Now the club must plan for a 2026/27 season without him for the first months, and without certainty that his back will hold up long-term.
The catch: even when fit, De Ligt’s back problems mean United and the Netherlands must manage his workload. He may never again play 50 matches a season.
Did De Ligt play in the World Cup?
Which World Cups did De Ligt participate in?
- The Netherlands failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup (The Athletic (sports journalism)).
- De Ligt missed the 2022 World Cup due to back surgery.
- He will miss the 2026 World Cup due to back surgery.
- As of 2025, he has zero World Cup appearances (The Athletic (sports journalism)).
Two World Cups lost to the same injury. For a player of De Ligt’s stature — a Champions League semi-finalist, a league champion in three countries — that is a career gap that increasingly defines his narrative.
Timeline: De Ligt’s career and injuries
- – Born in Leiderdorp, Netherlands (Manchester United (official club site))
- – Ajax first-team debut (The Athletic (sports journalism))
- – Senior Netherlands debut (The Athletic (sports journalism))
- – Named Ajax captain
- – Transferred to Juventus
- – Joined Bayern Munich
- – Underwent back surgery, missed 2022 World Cup (The Athletic (sports journalism))
- – Returned to training (ESPN (sports news))
- – Transferred to Manchester United
- – Injured in Brentford match (35 min, collision with Wissa) (Manchester United (official club site))
- – Last Netherlands appearance (vs Lithuania) (The Athletic (sports journalism))
- – Second back surgery, ruled out of 2026 World Cup (The Athletic (sports journalism))
What this means: De Ligt’s career has been punctuated by two back surgeries, each costing him a World Cup.
What we know vs what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Back surgery in October 2022 (World Cup miss) (The Athletic (sports journalism))
- Second back surgery in May 2026 (World Cup miss) (The Athletic (sports journalism))
- Foot injury in April-May 2025 (Manchester United (official club site))
- 42 appearances for Man United in 2024/25 (Manchester United (official club site))
- Netherlands caps: 38 (The Athletic (sports journalism))
- Returned to training in early 2023 (ESPN (sports news))
What’s unclear
- Exact recovery timeline after May 2026 surgery (The Athletic (sports journalism))
- Whether Netherlands will select him for 2026 World Cup if he recovers on schedule (The Athletic (sports journalism))
- Long-term recurrence risk for his back condition (ESPN (sports news))
- Whether he can ever return to a 50-match-per-season workload
- Whether Manchester United will sign a replacement centre-back in the summer
The pattern: De Ligt’s back problems are the recurring theme, and the unknowns around his recovery and long-term durability are as significant as the known facts.
“He had the back issue — it’s proving difficult. We have to be careful.”
— Ruben Amorim, Manchester United manager, on De Ligt’s injury (ESPN (sports news))
“De Ligt was working individually under club medical staff as he stepped up rehabilitation.”
— Manchester United club statement (ESPN (sports news))
For De Ligt, the immediate future is written in brass tacks: surgery, rehab, missed tournament. For Manchester United, the loss of their first-choice centre-back for the start of 2026/27 forces a defensive reshuffle. For the Netherlands, the 2026 World Cup now goes ahead without a player who, when fit, anchors their backline. The pattern is clear: De Ligt’s back is the uninvited third party in every major career decision. The choice for him and his medical team is no longer about strength or skill — it is about whether his spine can handle the demands of elite football at all.
nytimes.com, sports.yahoo.com, bbc.co.uk, goal.com, foxsports.com, en.wikipedia.org
Frequently asked questions
What is De Ligt’s salary?
According to reports, De Ligt earns around £230,000 per week at Manchester United, but exact figures have not been officially confirmed by the club.
How many international goals has De Ligt scored?
As of 2025, De Ligt has scored 2 goals for the Netherlands senior team (The Athletic (sports journalism)).
What is De Ligt’s playing style?
De Ligt is a ball-playing centre-back known for his aerial strength, aggressive man-marking, and leadership. His style is a blend of Dutch tactical intelligence and Italian defensive discipline from his Juventus years.
Is De Ligt left-footed or right-footed?
De Ligt is right-footed.
What awards has De Ligt won?
He won the Golden Boy award in 2018, Eredivisie (2018, 2019), Serie A (2020), Bundesliga (2023), and the DFB-Pokal (2023). He also finished fourth in the 2018 Ballon d’Or voting.
Did De Ligt play for Ajax’s youth academy?
Yes, he joined Ajax’s youth academy at age 10 and progressed through all levels before debuting for the senior team in 2016 (The Athletic (sports journalism)).
What is De Ligt’s jersey number at Manchester United?
De Ligt wears the number 4 shirt for Manchester United.
Related reading: Kevin De Bruyne: Age, Wife, Injury, Stats, and Latest News and Jack Butland: Stats, Wife, Net Worth & Injury History.
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