Noah Lang (27, Galatasaray), who almost lost a finger during the match, is recovering smoothly.
Türkiye's Habertürk reported on the 24th (Korean time), "The latest condition of Lang, whose finger was torn in the Liverpool match, has been revealed. In a post he uploaded to social media, his right thumb was seen wrapped in a large bandage," the outlet said.
Lang's face looked bright. He still needs more recovery, but it seems the injury did not become as serious as initially feared. Yener Ince, Galatasaray's team doctor, said that although he suffered a major injury, it was not a complete amputation and there is a possibility he could return to the pitch soon.
Ince said, "Immediate treatment was necessary, so we operated in Liverpool as quickly as possible. The surgery was completed successfully. For now he is in a stable condition. We are closely monitoring his recovery."
Lang is expected to be able to return as soon as a week. According to Ince, he will not be able to play in the Netherlands national team's first March A match against Norway on the 28th.
However, he could be available for the Ecuador match on April 1. Lang will be re-evaluated before the Ecuador match and a final decision on his participation will be made. Galatasaray and the Netherlands national team medical staff have been in constant communication and have prepared a special training program to help his quick return.
Lang injured his finger on the 19th. He came on as a substitute at the start of the second half in the 2025-2026 Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League (UCL) round of 16 second leg against Liverpool at Anfield. But in the 32nd minute of the second half, after contesting for the ball he was pushed and fell, and he was injured when he put his hand on an advertising board in front of the stands.
Lang was severely injured when his finger became dangerously trapped between metal structures. He bled heavily and, after being substituted again, was given oxygen and transported to the hospital. Galatasaray was eliminated from the round of 16 after losing 0-4.
Some fans initially jeered, thinking he was exaggerating, but the injury was more serious than expected. Jeremy Frimpong of Liverpool, who is a member of the Netherlands national team along with Lang, said after the match, "When I went to check on him I heard that almost half the finger had been severed. He was in tremendous pain."
Diagnosis confirmed Lang had a severe laceration and he needed rapid surgery. Immediately after the operation he posted on social media, "The surgery went well! Thanks for the messages," sharing a photo smiling with the nurses, and tried to laugh it off, saying, "Sh** happens."
Galatasaray, which experienced the perilous accident, formally protested to Liverpool. Secretary general Erol Yazgan said, "We officially raised the issue with UEFA officials after the match. UEFA is also conducting an investigation," and added, "We are currently discussing with lawyers and will file a compensation lawsuit against UEFA. We also plan to demand compensation for players' lost wages and other damages."
Galatasaray's legendary striker Didier Drogba also strongly criticized Liverpool. In an interview with CBC, he said, "This is a scandal. A footballer losing a finger during a match is absolutely unacceptable. There must be punishment," and insisted that UEFA and related bodies should impose strong sanctions on Liverpool.
[Photo] Noah Lang, SportsBible, ESPN FC social media.
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