---
title: "Mikel Merino injury: Arsenal midfielder feared career was over after rare foot fracture"
canonical: "https://readarsenal.com/2026/10/16/mikel-merino-injury-feared-retirement-world-cup-final/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Lucie Turner"
section: "Arsenal Injury News"
published: "2026-10-16T09:45:00Z"
modified: "2026-10-16T09:45:00Z"
---

# Mikel Merino injury: Arsenal midfielder feared career was over after rare foot fracture

The Mikel Merino injury that kept him out for much of last season was far more worrying than Arsenal fans realised. The Spain midfielder has revealed he feared a rare foot fracture might end his career, months before he played in a World Cup final.

Merino shared the story in a first-person piece for The Players’ Tribune, as reported by The Sun. He is now back in Arsenal’s squad, and his recovery is one of the most remarkable of the past year.

## **A fracture nobody had seen**

Merino hurt his foot in late January. Scans showed a stress fracture in an unusual part of the foot. He says the specialist who read them had 30 years of experience and had never seen anything like it. That doctor then phoned five of the world’s best specialists. None of them had either.

Arteta described the injury as rare at the time. Merino was first told to expect around five months out, which put his World Cup hopes in doubt.

The worst part was the uncertainty, Merino says, because no one could tell if the foot would heal correctly and he could walk again. The surgeons offered to put two screws in the foot for support. ‘I immediately agreed,’ he said.

## **Racing the clock**

The operation, which took place in early February, meant Arsenal had to go without him during their triumphant run to the Premier League title – a wait of 22 years since their last triumph. Merino watched from the sidelines.

He returned to full training in May and was then included in Spain’s World Cup squad, showing his recovery was on track.

Not only did Merino make the squad, but he also played in the final against Argentina at MetLife Stadium, which Spain won 1-0 after extra time thanks to Ferran Torres.

One of Lionel Messi’s shots was blocked by Merino’s face in the game, which he recalls: “I went down like I’d been shot.” He says he could not see out of one eye for the rest of the game. When the final whistle blew, he felt only relief.

## **What it means for Arsenal**

Merino has since returned to action for Arsenal. There has been no better time for him to arrive than now. Martin Zubimendi and Piero Hincapie both suffered ankle injuries last week, and Mikel Arteta is down to a small pool of midfielders with which to work. Arsenal travel to Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

Few players in the squad have been through what Merino has been through. A player who feared he would never play again is now a World Cup winner, and he figures to have a bright future at Arsenal.