Trezeguet suffers hamstring tear: another blow for Egyptian football

Mahmoud Hassan, known as Trezeguet, left the pitch in tears in the 13th minute of Al-Riyadh's clash with Al-Khaleej in round 6 of the Saudi Pro League. Medical examinations confirmed a hamstring tear, and he is expected to be out for four weeks. This is a heavy blow not only for Al-Riyadh but also for the Egyptian national team, as Trezeguet remains a key attacking option under coach Hossam Hassan. He will return to Cairo to continue treatment with Egypt's medical staff, ruling him out of the upcoming camp starting September 17 and the two 2027 AFCON qualifiers against Angola and South Sudan. The injury forces Egypt to rethink their tactical setup, possibly shifting from 4-3-3 to a diamond 4-4-2 to utilise Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush centrally. For Al-Riyadh, Trezeguet had 2 goals and 14 key passes this season, leaving a significant gap. The broader context raises concerns about the injury frequency among Egyptian players in the Saudi league, linked to fixture congestion and harsh climate. Trezeguet is expected back by late October, but questions remain about his form ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in November.