HERRIMAN, Utah (Thursday, March 7, 2024) – Real Salt Lake midfielder Pablo Ruiz suffered a contact injury to his left knee in Tuesday’s training session, with an MRI later that day revealing an isolated ACL tear. Following Wednesday’s meeting between Pablo and the RSL Team Orthopedic Surgeon to discuss his case, Ruiz will undergo surgery next week by RSL Team Orthopedic Surgeon Dr Dain Allred of Intermountain Hospital in Provo. A timeline for his recovery will be determined following the procedure to repair his ACL.
The 25-year-old Argentine started each of RSL first two games this season – a road loss at Miami and the away draw in St. Louis – before coming off the bench for the final 20 minutes of Saturday’s 3-0 win over visiting LAFC. In the days before the injury, Ruiz had just signed a new long-term contract with RSL that will keep him on the Wasatch Front guaranteed through the 2026 season, with Club options in the '27 and '28.
Ruiz will be in attendance and recognized at this Saturday’s Rocky Mountain Cup contest at America First Field (7:30p MT kickoff; tickets available at www.RSL.com/tickets).
“Pablo is an important part of our team, an important part of our Club,” said RSL Sporting Director Kurt Schmid. “He’s been here for six years and we have faith and confidence in his ability to return from this injury, to battle through the adversity and to come back stronger than ever. We look forward to adding him back into our squad.
“Pablo’s injury last year highlighted his importance to the team and how he could impact the group; nothing highlighted that more than his absence and how the team performed when he was gone, but we were obviously very happy and excited to have him back. To complete the new deal following his recovery from last year’s injury and his resumption of play in preseason and in the first couple of games of the year is the right thing, and this is just a terrible accident and setback. Obviously Pablo will stay connected to the Club and he has the full support of everyone during his recovery and rehabilitation process.”
Ruiz had just returned to action early in the 2024 season following a meniscus tear to his right knee suffered in an August 8 match at LAFC in the Leagues Cup Round of 16 match, causing him to miss the final 14 matches of 2023, including the three-game Audi MLS Cup Playoff series with Houston and the Semifinal at Houston in the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Prior to his injury, RSL had dropped just three out of 21 matches across MLS, Open Cup and Leagues Cup competition over the course of nearly five months.
“Once again my career is put on pause, because I suffered a knee injury again, this time it will be for the entire season,” said Ruiz – nicknamed ‘Quique’ – late Tuesday via his Instagram page. “Today I had the news that I tore my ligaments and therefore I am out for the entire season. It hurts me to express myself since for me it is news that affects me emotionally and psychologically again, when everything was going more than fine because I returned to play later of 6 months. I want you to know that this is not the end, I will simply get back up stronger than ever to do what I love most, which is playing soccer. With the support of my family, my wife and son, I know that I will return to the field. of game. as quickly as possible, mainly for me, for my family and for all of you who are the ones who give me a lot of love every day, thank you very much.”
“Pablo is a great person, he’s parlayed that with being a great player on the field and this year his leadership in the locker room is fantastic,” said RSL Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni. “It is so unfortunate to lose a player that is so significant to the team, to the Club and to all the different relationships that he’s built over the years. He’s got a great mindset, he is ready to endure the recovery and get back as soon as possible.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to work with Pablo over the last four years. I see a guy that consistently tries to improve his game, get better, and now with his leadership and what he means to the younger generation, I think it’s a great opportunity for us to have a great player, and for Pablo to keep growing and developing as a top notch MLS midfielder.
“With everything, it’s really about putting your arm around him, spending time with him away from the game and just knowing that he’s got a group of guys that really care about him whether he's injured or not.”
