De Bruyne likely out injured until 2026 in a blow for Napoli and Belgium

NAPLES, Italy (AP) — Napoli had its fears confirmed by news that Kevin De Bruyne has a severe lesion to his thigh muscle and will be sidelined for several months.

De Bruyne immediately pulled up and clutched the back of his right thigh on Saturday after converting a penalty to set Napoli on the way to a 3-1 win over Inter Milan in Serie A.

The former Manchester City midfielder looked distraught and had to be helped off the field by two medical staff. He was later seen on the bench with his thigh heavily strapped and crutches alongside him.

“Kevin De Bruyne underwent instrumental tests at the Pineta Grande Hospital and that showed a high-grade lesion to the femoral bicep in his right thigh,” Napoli said in a statement on Monday.

“The player has already started the rehabilitation process.”

The Serie A team did not indicate when De Bruyne was expected back but Napoli and Belgium teammate Romelu Lukaku suffered a similar injury during a preseason friendly and he will likely be back in January.

The penalty took De Bruyne’s tally to four goals in eight Serie A matches. It also helped to send Napoli to a share of the Serie A lead but at a hefty cost.

Fellow midfielder Stanislav Lobotka was also out injured and Frank Anguissa will be with Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations over December and January.

The news is also a blow to Belgium which has crucial World Cup qualifiers next month. De Bruyne has netted six goals in his past five matches for his country.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Napoli's Kevin De Bruyne is carried off the pitch after getting injured during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Napoli and Inter Milan, in Naples, Italy, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)

Napoli's Kevin De Bruyne, left, leaves the pitch injured during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Napoli and Inter Milan, in Naples, Italy, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)

Napoli's Kevin De Bruyne scores their side's first goal of the game from the penalty spot, during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Napoli and Inter Milan, in Naples, Italy, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)

Napoli's Kevin De Bruyne reacts after leaving the pitch injured during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Napoli and Inter Milan, in Naples, Italy, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)

Napoli's Kevin De Bruyne leaves the pitch injured during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Napoli and Inter Milan, in Naples, Italy, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Three people, including a 10-month-old girl, were killed Sunday when high winds toppled a tree in northern Germany during an Easter egg hunt, police said.

Around 50 people from a nearby residential facility for new mothers, pregnant women and children were attending the event in woods near the town of Satrupholm at about 11 a.m. when a 30-meter (100-foot) tree fell on the group, police said in a statement.

Four people were pinned under the tree. A 21-year-old woman and a 16-year-old girl were treated by first responders but died at the scene, while the woman's 10-month old daughter died later in the hospital. An 18-year-old woman suffered serious injuries and was brought to the hospital by helicopter.

The facility is part of the state-funded child welfare system and supports pregnant women and new mothers who need help, according to its website. Grief counselors were sent to the scene.

Pictures from the scene published by the Bild news site showed several Easter eggs scattered on the ground and two of the victims covered in white sheets.

The area had been under a high winds warning from the German weather service.

Rescue workers are on the scene after an accident in a wooded area south-east of Flensburg, Germany on Sunday, April 5, 2026. (Benjamin Nolte/dpa via AP)

Schleswig-Holstein, Flensburg: Police officers stand next to a fallen tree in a wooded area south-east of Flensburg, Germany on Sunday, April 5, 2026. (Benjamin Nolte/dpa via AP)