Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes has likely played his final game for the club and will miss the World Cup after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right leg during the 3-0 victory over Celta Vigo on Wednesday.
• Tomas: Bittersweet victory
Valdes, who announced earlier this season that he will leave Barca in the summer, jumped to stop a Celta free-kick in the first half of the match at Camp Nou but his right knee appeared to buckle as he landed. He fell to the turf and called to be substituted.
He was carried to a cart and then shuttled off the pitch with his gloved hands covering his face.
Barcelona confirmed the extent of Valdes' injury shortly after Wednesday's victory.
BREAKING NEWS: Victor Valdés suffers ACL tear: The Club's medical services confirm that the player will need surgery http://t.co/PwUTCl6Uah
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 26, 2014
"This is painful news and is too high a price to pay for these three points," said Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta.
Valdes' ACL tear will cause the Spain international to miss this summer's World Cup in Brazil.
Valdes, 32, has 20 caps for Spain and has been in a back-and-forth battle with Real Madrid's Iker Casillas for La Roja's starting spot. His absence would likely open the door for Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea to travel with Vicente del Bosque's squad.
Jose Manuel Pinto replaced Valdes in goal on Wednesday. He has been the starter in Copa del Rey matches this season, and started for Barcelona when Valdes injured his calf in November.
Manager Gerardo Martino said Barcelona will not look to add a goalkeeper.
"We will finish the season with this group," Martino said. "I am not one to believe in bad luck, but at this stage of the season I thought everything that was to happen had already occurred. I was wrong. It's a big blow but this team has rolled with punches for some time now and we will pull through this."
