Bombito set for second surgery on left tibia after ‘struggling’ through World Cup

“And in that moment, without thinking about it, I tell him that I’ll be there. I’m going to help. I’m going to represent my country. But my leg is telling me something else.”

Bombito initially fractured his tibia on Oct. 5 but came back in time to compete for Canada this summer. He played in three of Canada’s five games, with two starts — including a full 90 minutes in the round-of-16 win over South Africa — as Canada eventually fell to Morocco in the quarterfinals.

The six-foot-three centre back says he pushed through the knockout win over South Africa but that he was “struggling quite a bit.”

Canada Soccer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“It’s a tough blow, a tough blow,” Bombito said. “But at the same time, I was kind of expecting it because over the last month I really tried to show that, first, I could give everything I had and, second, bring something to the team.

“But I think it was pretty obvious to everyone that I wasn’t myself, that I was being held back a bit, let’s say, by this tibia. And obviously it’s something that’s difficult. But I’m going to get through it, that’s for sure.”

He was still in “discomfort” and “pain” upon returning to Nice, but didn’t want to have surgery. He wanted to see if it was a must, and was in agreement with the coaching and medical staff to decide by August’s end.

“The pain is something I feel constantly. Every jog, every run — basically all the time. Except when I’m walking, I feel a jolt. It’s like an electric shock with every step I take,” Bombito said.

“And mentally, you can keep telling yourself that it’s going to be OK, but if it’s constantly there, yeah, it’s difficult. No, it’s difficult. It’s something that bothers me. Like I told you, it’s been a year now, maybe longer. So I really want to put an end to this and finally be able to take that next step and be myself, you know? Play at 100 per cent and give everything I can.”

Bombito joined Nice in 2024 after a run with Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids.

He played 35 games (33 starts) in his first season with the French club before missing all but two games due to injury last season.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 26, 2026.

The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Bombito set for second surgery on left tibia after ‘struggling’ through World Cup

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