A quick crack within the knee — the cruciate ligament is torn, and soccer is off the desk for six months. Saša Kalajdžić has lived by way of this nightmare situation a number of occasions. Inside 5 years, he even suffered three cruciate ligament tears. A motive to stop? Not for the Austrian.
In just some days, the previous Bundesliga star will play in his first World Cup on the age of 28. Again within the soccer highlight, the striker will even be enjoying for his future on the event within the USA, and .
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“It was a aid, and I in some way loved it too,” Kalajdžić mentioned, describing his emotions after his worldwide comeback in March 2026 towards . Ralf Rangnick known as up the 2-meter man to the squad for the primary time since November 2023. Earlier than that, he had as soon as once more made a reputation for himself along with his performances within the Austrian Bundesliga.
As destiny’s irony typically has it, he may now profit within the nationwide workforce from an damage to a rival.
After the third cruciate ligament tear of his profession, he moved on mortgage from to Linz in the summertime of 2025. At LASK, Kalajdžić turned a frontrunner above all within the second half of the season and, with 18 objective contributions in 29 matches, performed a key function in profitable the league title and the cup. It was solely in winter that the striker actually realized he may nonetheless compete on the highest degree, as he revealed in an interview with ‘FIFA.com’:
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“Winter preparation was price its weight in gold for me, after we had three friendlies towards two European opponents — opponents additionally enjoying within the Europa League or the Convention League. After which within the first aggressive match towards Blau-Weiß Linz within the cup, the place I scored and offered an help. That was mainly my first actual signal of life, the place I mentioned: Okay, I’m again.”
Will that first actual signal of life in winter now be adopted by a return to soccer’s largest stage?
Only a few years in the past, Kalajdžić was working on a degree far above the Austrian Bundesliga. Within the 2020/21 season, he scored 16 targets in 33 league matches for . A 12 months later, he even moved to the Premier League. Wolverhampton Wanderers paid 18 million euros for the 2-meter man, who at that time was valued at 25 million in keeping with ‘Transfermarkt.de’.
After only one match got here the shock: Kalajdžić suffered the second of his complete of three cruciate ligament tears and has managed solely a meager 16 appearances for the English membership in 4 years up to now. Will there be extra sooner or later?
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It’s unclear what comes subsequent for the striker this summer season. On the finish of Could, he introduced his departure from LASK, and for now he’s returning to Wolves. Fortunately, there may be nonetheless that ominous World Cup to suggest himself to a brand new membership. And for the previous few days, it has additionally been clear that Ralf Rangnick wants the striker greater than ever.
📸 Michael Steele – 2025 Getty Photos
The rationale: has been dominated out of the World Cup at quick discover. The Bundesliga star from Leipzig suffered an damage to his proper thigh earlier than the 1-0 pleasant win over . In that warm-up match, fellow striker moved into Baumgartner’s place. Kalajdžić, in the meantime, is now the primary possibility up entrance behind Marco Arnautović. If essential, nonetheless, he may additionally play simply behind .
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As soon as once more, the towering striker proved final season that alongside his large ending capacity, he additionally has high quality as a supplier. “I’m somebody who can carry these sorts of gamers into the sport, and that’s why one or two additional assists come alongside,” Kalajdžić additionally advised ‘FIFA.com’. Possibly with one or two assists within the group matches towards , and , he can even put himself within the store window for potential groups. Anybody who comes again like this after three cruciate ligament tears will surely deserve it.
This text was translated into English by Synthetic Intelligence.