Real Salt Lake star Diego Luna’s season ‘cut short,’ announces knee procedure

SANDY — Real Salt Lake is on an MLS-match winless streak after Saturday’s 2-0 home loss to New York City FC, and one of the club’s top players won’t be returning any time soon.

Diego Luna, the talisman winger with five goals and six assists, revealed on Instagram that he will soon undergo a knee procedure to repair a torn meniscus — and potentially the 2026 season.

“I will use this time to heal mentally and physically and come back stronger than ever and ready to take over because that’s who I am,” he said in a lengthy statement posted online.

The news follows RSL listing Luna among a long list of absences due to a problem with his knee. The Athletic was the first to report the injury.

Like that of the club he represents, Luna’s season started with immense promise. The 23-year-old rising star at one point seemed like a lock to make the U.S. men’s national team for the 2026 FIFA men’s World Cup on home soil after scoring four goals in 18 appearances in 2024 and 2025.

But the call-up from manager Mauricio Pochettino never came, and an additional injury absence would also likely prevent Luna from being called into U.S. camp in late September through early October for friendlies against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada.

Still, Luna went to work with his club team, erupting for a pair of goals in his first two starts of the season April 4 against Sporting Kansas City and April 18 against San Diego FC. He added two more by the end of May, but has just one goal since MLS returned from the World Cup break as RSL (8-11-5, 25 points) slid down the table during one of the roughest patches in Pablo Mastroeni’s five years as head coach.

On Tuesday, he opened up on social media about the battles — both mental and physical — that he’s been facing. Long an advocate for mental health awareness, particularly among young men and Latino males, Luna’s post was heartfelt:

“I haven’t been the Diego Luna that many of you know. I want to apologize for everyone that has been supporting me and believes in me because through such a difficult year for me, there’s been a constant battle within myself. That hasn’t allowed me to express myself and reach my potential And now my season has been cut short, and a new chapter of recovery begins. With a torn meniscus that needs to be repaired. I will use this time to heal mentally and physically and come back stronger than ever and ready to take over because that’s who I am. There is frustration, anger, sad ness but on top of all that the realization that this is another opportunity to show people who I am and the foundation of what my career has been the doubt the obstacles and the blessed opportunity I have to bet on myself through all the noise and come out on top. I will see the field next year.”

 

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The extent of the injury won’t be known until a preliminary procedure is performed. But Luna’s indication is clear: his 2026 season is done.

MLS will conduct a “sprint season” before moving to the new summer-to-spring season that better corresponds with the European calendar. The 14-match regular season will kick off in February before a single-elimination MLS Cup Playoffs leading up to MLS Cup in late May.

Where Luna’s next season will begin is also a question. The star midfielder had reported interest from clubs in Spain and Mexico before opting to remaining with Real Salt Lake through the end of the 2026 season.

The former MLS Young Player of the Year who represented the league in the MLS All-Star Game a year ago will almost certainly have options — at least, eventually, when he returns to full health.