Marie-Antoinette Katoto set to miss World Cup

According to a recent report from Le Parisien, Marie-Antoinette Katoto will not be ready for this year's edition of the World Cup, which is set to place in July, while still recovering from his injury.

Katoto will likely miss her second consecutive World Cup, with her ACL injury preventing her from participating.

She suffered this injury last summer during the Euros and that forced her to miss the whole tournament back then. France made it to the semifinal without her contributions, though, but ultimately the nation couldn't overcome eventual runners-up Germany.

France has already lost Lyon's Delphine Cascarino due to a similar ACL injury suffered last weekend when her side was crowned D1 Arkema champions against PSG. She will also be unavailable for the World Cup, although Kadidiatou Diani is still recovering from her surgery but should be ready in time.

Katoto's had a rough year, missing the whole season with her club, even more considering she was coming into 2022-23 hot and bagging goals in almost every game in every competition. Her determination would have been to prepare for the World Cup staged to take place in Australia and New Zealand, but it looks that, again, she will have to miss another tourney.

Is there an expected return date for Katoto?

Supporters of the player and various media outlets presumed Katoto would be included in the World Cup squad, but according to the latest reports, that probably wouldn't be the case.

It remains a big question mark now if Katoto will become a regular starter or even be present in the first games of the 2023-24 season at PSG.

Yes, the next season is a long way off, but seeing that the Frenchwoman is not fit enough to participate in the World Cup, does raise concern.

It's disappointing for the player as she already missed the previous World Cup due to not being picked for the squad.

It was safe to say that decision was a strange one as Katoto was the D1 Arkema League's top scorer at the time, showing just how good she was in front of goal and the type of player that is much appreciated when encountering a tournament with such high quality as the World Cup.

France only managed to make it to the quarter-finals of the 2019 World Cup when they lost to the United States. Head coach Harve Renard will want his side to progress further in the competition and have a chance of winning.

Though it's not confirmed that Katoto will not play in this year's World Cup, everything is currently pointing toward that outcome.

We all wish Katoto a speedy recovery and for her to be ready to appear on the first games of the season when PSG get back to the pitch by the end of the summer.