Problems for Germany ahead of the World Cup: Ter Stegen is injured and his presence at the tournament is in doubt

The script for Marc-André ter Stegen’s "redemption arc" has taken a tragic and unexpected turn. Just two weeks after leaving FC Barcelona in search of the minutes denied to him by Hansi Flick, the German goalkeeper has suffered a severe muscular injury during Girona’s clash against Real Oviedo at the Carlos Tartiere. Initial reports from the medical staff at Montilivi are far from optimistic, suggesting that the goalkeeper’s season—and his World Cup aspirations—could be hanging by a thread.

The injury occurred during the latter stages of the match on Saturday, January 31st. Ter Stegen felt a sharp "snap" in the posterior part of his left thigh while attempting a routine clearance. The immediate concern in the Girona camp is that the injury involves the hamstring tendon, a complication that would almost certainly require a new trip to the operating room.

For Ter Stegen, the emotional blow is as heavy as the physical one. After undergoing back surgery earlier this season and previously battling chronic knee issues, this new setback feels like a cruel joke of fate. In Girona, the atmosphere is one of profound disappointment; the club had banked on the German's elite experience to secure their top-flight status, but that momentum has been cut short before it truly began.

Ter Stegen arrived at Girona on January 20, 2026, on a high-profile loan from Barcelona, with the Catalan giants reportedly covering the majority of his substantial salary. Manager Míchel didn't hesitate to hand him the starting spot, benching the long-serving Paulo Gazzaniga.

While Ter Stegen only managed to sum one point in his two appearances (conceding two goals), his presence had brought a sense of character and leadership to the backline. Now, Míchel is forced to pull a U-turn and reinstall Gazzaniga as the undisputed starter for the remainder of the campaign. With an estimated recovery time of two and a half to three months, Ter Stegen may have played his last minute for the Blanquivermells.

The timing of this injury is catastrophic for Ter Stegen’s international career. His move to Girona was a calculated gamble to escape the shadow of Joan García, who has become Hansi Flick’s undisputed number one at Barcelona. Ter Stegen needed competitive rhythm to convince Julian Nagelsmann that he should remain Germany's first-choice keeper for the 2026 World Cup this summer.

Instead, with surgery looming and a return unlikely before April, Ter Stegen’s place in the German squad is in serious jeopardy. While he rehabs, potentially back at Barcelona's facilities, his rivals will be gaining the ground he so desperately tried to reclaim.

There is already talk behind the scenes of an early termination of the loan agreement, though contractual obligations and RFEF regulations make a mid-season return to Barça’s active roster impossible. For now, the football world watches and waits for the final medical results. The clock is ticking toward June, and for Marc-André ter Stegen, the silence between the three posts has never been louder.