William Saliba is reportedly considering his future with the French national team following the devastating back injury he suffered during France’s 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final defeat to Spain.
The 25-year-old had been one of France’s standout performers throughout the competition, forming the backbone of Didier Deschamps’ defence as Les Bleus reached the final four. However, disaster struck midway through the semi-final when Saliba went down clutching his back before being substituted in visible pain. The emotional scenes left fans fearing the worst, and those fears were later confirmed when Arsenal announced that the defender would face an extended spell on the sidelines, although surgery would not be required.
Sources close to the player claim the injury has taken a significant emotional toll on Saliba. Missing the remainder of the World Cup and facing months of rehabilitation has reportedly made him question whether continuing his international career is worth the physical demands.
Saliba had entered the tournament carrying a minor back issue but chose to continue playing due to the importance of representing France on the biggest stage in world football. The defender had even followed a modified training programme throughout the tournament to manage the discomfort. Unfortunately, the problem worsened in the semi-final, bringing his World Cup dream to a heartbreaking end.
The defender has always spoken proudly about wearing the France shirt, making any potential decision to step away from international football a hugely emotional one. Having established himself as one of the world’s finest centre-backs, Saliba was expected to be a key figure for France for many years to come.
Reports suggest that Saliba wants to focus entirely on recovering physically and mentally before making any final decision regarding his international future. His priority is returning to full fitness for Arsenal and ensuring he can continue performing at the highest level in club football.
French supporters have flooded social media with messages of encouragement, urging the defender not to make any rash decisions while recovering from such a difficult setback. Many believe that after months of rehabilitation, Saliba could rediscover his passion for representing his country.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are expected to carefully manage the defender’s recovery, with the club determined not to rush one of their most valuable players back into action. The Premier League champions have already confirmed that Saliba will undergo a structured rehabilitation programme under the supervision of the club’s medical staff.
Whether Saliba ultimately decides to continue with France or eventually calls time on his international career remains uncertain. For now, there has been no official announcement from the player confirming retirement plans. His immediate focus remains recovering from the serious injury that ended his World Cup campaign and returning to the pitch stronger than ever.
