Johnny Cardoso
ATM
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2026/2027 La Liga
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2026/2027 La Liga
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Cleared to face Stuttgart
Cardoso is fit for Tuesday's Champions League clash against Stuttgart after recovering from the illness that forced him to miss Saturday's 1-0 victory against Espanyol, with the midfielder included in Atletico Madrid's official squad list, according to the club.
Analysis: Cardoso returns to contention after missing Saturday's victory against Espanyol due to illness, putting him back in the mix for a midfield role against Stuttgart. The American midfielder had started four consecutive matches across all competitions before his latest absence, gradually rebuilding his fitness and establishing himself as a regular option following right ankle surgery in May that also ruled him out of the World Cup. His inclusion in Tuesday's traveling squad suggests he has recovered sufficiently to feature, although it remains unclear whether he will immediately return to the starting lineup. Cardoso will compete with Morten Hjulmand, Pablo Barrios and Marcos Llorente for minutes in central midfield, with coach Diego Simeone having additional flexibility in his selection for the European fixture.
Missing World Cup due to surgery
Cardoso is set for ankle surgery due to an ankle sprain with joint involvement, according to his club.
Analysis: Cardoso's 2026 World Cup dreams have come to an end, as after suffering a high-grade ankle sprain in training, he will now undergo surgery. This is a major blow for the USMNT as the midfielder had a solid season playing in the Atletico midfield, leaving his national team without an important option in the middle. He ends the campaign recording 12 starts in 15 appearances and will look to recover ahead of the start of the next campaign.
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