Henderson shatters forearm in post-match celebrations as England star faces surgery and World Cup exit

Jordan Henderson has suffered a far more serious injury than first reported, fracturing his entire left forearm after slipping over an advertising board during the post-match celebrations of England’s 3-2 World Cup last-16 victory over Mexico at the Estadio Azteca.

The Brentford midfielder, who was an unused substitute in the win, lost his footing while attempting to leap over the hoarding and landed awkwardly. Medics rushed to his aid, administering oxygen before stretchering him away as concerned England team-mates gathered around him.

Henderson’s father, Brian, has since clarified the full extent of the damage, pushing back on widespread reports that only his wrist had been broken. “It’s his left forearm — he’s just completely smashed it,” Brian told the Daily Mail. “He’s going to have a cast on and then it depends on what the experts say.”

The injury rules Henderson out for the remainder of the tournament and, with surgery required, he looks likely to miss the start of the Premier League season too. Despite that, Brian confirmed his son will not be returning home early. “He won’t be leaving his team-mates. He’ll be there until it’s finished.”

England captain Harry Kane initially played down the incident in a post-match interview, saying: “Jordan just fell over there. I think he’s OK, just something to do with his arm.” But the sight of a stretcher being wheeled past during that same interview quickly told a different story.

Brian described the moment he realised the true severity of the injury while watching from afar. “At first I just thought he’d fallen. I thought he’d maybe scraped his wrist. I had no idea it was that serious until they were interviewing Harry Kane and a trolley came past with Jordan on it. I could see him on there with oxygen and things. Straight away, I messaged his PA, who was over there, to try and find out what had happened. I was up all night waiting to hear the news.”

Henderson, 36, was not expected to play a major on-pitch role for England at this World Cup, with his value to Gareth Southgate’s squad largely as a dressing-room leader. He did, however, come off the bench against Panama to become the first England player ever to appear at four World Cups.