The season is over for Diego Luna, much earlier than the Real Salt Lake star had hoped.
The 23-year-old will undergo a procedure to repair a torn meniscus in his knee and will miss the rest of the season, he announced in an Instagram post.
"I haven’t been the Diego Luna that many of you know. I want to apologize for everyone that has been supporting me and believes in me because through such a difficult year for me, there’s been a constant battle within myself," Luna wrote. "That hasn’t allowed me to express myself and reach my potential."
Real Salt Lake is winless in its last 11 matches in MLS play. Luna has played a part in most of those matches, including starting and going 70 minutes in a Sept. 9 loss at the Houston Dynamo. But he was listed
on the injury report with a knee issue for a Sept. 12 defeat to New York City FC and now has vowed to get right for next season.
"I will see the field next year," he wrote in his post.
A shifty attacker who is also characterized by his grit, Luna is expected to be part of the United States men's national team picture going forward. He was one of the most notable omissions from the 2026 World Cup roster, having won praise from manager Mauricio Pochettino for past performances in a U.S. shirt but missing the cut.
Pochettino has remained at the helm, but likely wouldn't be able to call on Luna again until March 2027. The U.S. has four friendly matches in the September-October international window, then plays a two-legged Concacaf Nations League series in November.
Despite its recent struggles, RSL is still only a point out of a postseason place in the Western Conference. Losing Luna after selling Zavier Gozo to Crystal Palace in the summer limits options for manager Pablo Mastroeni, with those players the second- and third-leading scorers on the team behind Sergi Solans. The Utah outfit recently acquired Taylor Booth from FC Twente, with the 25-year-old American attacker making his RSL debut in the loss to NYCFC.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Real Salt Lake's Diego Luna to miss rest of MLS season with torn meniscus
