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SALT LAKE CITY — Real Salt Lake midfielder Pablo Ruiz announced on Instagram Tuesday he will miss the remainder of the 2024 season with a torn knee ligament. The team confirmed the 25-year-old Argentine suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during training Tuesday.
An official timetable will be set for his recovery after surgery, but it is a devastating blow to a player just weeks removed from his return to the field after a six-month layoff due to an MCL injury in his right knee in August.
"Once again my career is put on pause," Ruiz said in his Instagram post. "It hurts me to express myself since for me it is news that affects me emotionally and psychologically again, when everything was going more than fine because I returned to play after six months. I want you to know that this is not the end. I will simply get back up stronger than ever to do what I love most, which is playing soccer."
The comments on the post were flooded with messages of love and encouragement from both current and former teammates, with Diego Luna saying, "You'll be back stronger ... here with you."
Ruiz played in all three of RSL's matches so far this season — starting in two of them — and figured to be a crucial part of the team with his tenacious effort and passing ability. He moved into an attacking midfielder role during the preseason, but the arrival of Matt Crooks was set to allow Ruiz to slide back into his more natural central midfield role.
Braian Ojeda and Emeka Eneli will likely be the two starters in the central midfield now and were indeed the starters along with Crooks when Ruiz came off the bench against LAFC last week.
Nelson Palacio is the other option for RSL in the midfield, but the team may now look to add another depth piece with Ruiz out and the primary transfer window still open until April 23.
The Athletic's Tom Bogert reported Wednesday that Crooks will take up one of RSL's three "designated player" spots along with Andres Gomez and Chicho Arango, while Luna was signed to a new long-term contract under the U-22 initiative.
