RB Leipzig’s Christoph Baumgartner ruled out of World Cup
Austria will be without RB Leipzig star Christoph Baumgartner for the FIFA World Cup 2026 after he sustained a thigh injury during the pre-match warm-up before Tuesday’s friendly victory over Tunisia.
Baumgartner’s diagnosis was confirmed following an MRI scan on Tuesday morning.
“This is of course very bitter news for Christoph and for us as a team,” explained Austria head coach Ralf Rangnick. “He’s an important player and a key figure within our squad. Now we’re giving him our full support in his recovery.”
Baumgartner finished 2025/26 as Leipzig’s top scorer, returning 13 goals and providing eight assists in 33 Bundesliga outings to help Ole Werner’s charges secure a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League.
Austria’s World Cup campaign gets under way against Jordan on 17 June before games against Argentina (22 June) and Algeria (28 June).
