A broken leg was not going to stop Ismael Kone from celebrating the most important victory in Canadian soccer history.
Kone should have been featuring in Canada’s World Cup Round of 32 match against South Africa in Los Angeles on Sunday.
However, the midfielder was stricken down after a horror tackle from Qatar’s Assim Madibo that resulted in Kone breaking his leg.
But moments after Canada clinched the victory to secure a Round of 16 spot, Kone was seen hobbling onto the field to join his teammates on the pitch in celebration.
After the team returned to the locker room, Kone was seen standing without crutches and dancing in the center of the space.
Kone was only slightly shuffling, but still celebrated as his teammates jumped around him.
Ismael Kone was seen dancing without crutches after Canada beat South Africa
It comes just over a week after Kone’s leg was broken in two places against Qatar
Kone will not feature for Les Rouges for the remainder of the World Cup due to the injury
Fans were shocked that Kone was able to stand without aid considering the severity of his injury.
‘Bros leg snapped in half n he out here dancing,’ wrote one user on X.
Another posted, ‘Ismael Kone broke his leg a week ago… and is now celebrating sans crutches?’
‘NO ONE show this to his physiotherapist,’ another user joked.
Kone needed to be taken off on a stretcher and later underwent surgery for a broken tibia and fibula.
The midfielder was sawed down from behind as his teammates recoiled in horror. One of Jesse Marsch’s assistants ran to a fourth official and yelled, ‘His leg is hanging off.’
Madibo was also visibly upset and apologized in person to Koné after the game. The terrifying tackle resulted in a five match ban for Madibo after the referee gave him a straight red card.
‘You can´t even imagine how grateful I am to everyone who reached out and that has me in their prayers,’ Koné later posted on Instagram.
