James Maddison opens up on ‘dark time’ after ACL injury diagnosis at Tottenham

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James Maddison has opened up on his struggles after finding out he would miss almost every game in Tottenham’s 2025/26 season.

The Tottenham attacking midfielder ruptured his ACL during Spurs’ pre-season game in South Korea against Newcastle, which proved to be Heung-min Son’s farewell game.

Maddison was in tears as he was stretchered off the pitch, which suggested that he immediately knew that it was an ACL injury.

It was reported soon after the injury that the Tottenham midfielder is unlikely to play again this season, and the 29-year-old has now confessed that his fate was hard for him to accept.

James Maddison admits he struggled mentally after the Tottenham injury

The former Leicester man is now in his prime years as a footballer, and he admits that it was not easy to have one year completely taken away from him.

Maddison has shed light on how lost he felt for a few days as a result of not being able to do the one thing he has dedicated his life to: playing football.

Speaking to ITV News, the Tottenham star said about his injury: It’s taking away the thing that you love, the thing that drives you. I was put on this earth to play football.

“You do feel a bit lost, and a bit stuck… it definitely takes its toll, there’s some dark time. I’ve had some days where I haven’t wanted to get out of bed, but the drive and the motivation of seeing myself back playing make me get up and get after it.”

Maddison also suggested that more footballers should not shy away from talking about their mental struggles, which can be extreme since they are always in the limelight.

He pointed out that opening up about the mental challenges is the first step to getting the help necessary for the players to overcome them.

When asked if top players talked enough about mental health, Maddison responded: “Probably not. It’s difficult for footballers, especially these days. You’re judged on everything. If you talk too much, you get told off for that; if you don’t talk enough, you’re told you should talk more.

“People are talking more… We’ve got to do more of that, it’s okay to talk, it’s okay to be vulnerable, it’s okay to be in a bad place. Talking normally ends up in help, whether you need a lot of help or someone to give you a kick up the backside.”