William Saliba has revealed that he has been playing through a persistent back problem for several months as he continues to help France at the 2026 World Cup.
The Arsenal defender enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career as the Gunners ended their 22-year wait for the Premier League title and also reached the Champions League final.
However, the 25-year-old has now admitted that he has not been fully fit for some time.
Speaking from France’s World Cup training base, Saliba explained that he has been managing ongoing discomfort throughout a demanding campaign for both club and country.
“I’ve had some minor niggles for several months,” Saliba said. “I’ve been gritting my teeth because there was the Champions League and the Premier League.”
Despite the issue, the centre-back continued to play a key role for Arsenal during the run-in and has remained an important figure for Didier Deschamps at the World Cup.
Saliba featured in France’s opening group-stage victory over Senegal and has been following an individualised training programme to help manage his condition.
The France international acknowledged that he is not operating at full capacity but insisted he is unwilling to use the injury as an excuse.
“The World Cup comes round only once every four years, so you’ve got to grit your teeth,” he added. “I’m not at 100 per cent, but there are plenty of players who aren’t at 100 per cent either. You can’t make excuses.”
His comments will underline the physical demands placed on elite players after a gruelling season that stretched deep into the summer.
Saliba was once again one of Arsenal’s most reliable performers, forming a formidable defensive partnership that helped deliver the club’s first league title since 2004.
The defender’s willingness to play through pain also mirrors the situations facing several of his Arsenal teammates.
Bukayo Saka has been carefully managing an Achilles problem, while Declan Rice recently revealed he has been dealing with ongoing discomfort after a demanding campaign.
For France, Saliba’s fitness remains a key concern as they push for a third World Cup triumph.
Les Bleus can secure qualification for the knockout stages with victory over Iraq in their second group match, and Saliba is expected to remain a central figure if deemed fit enough to start.
Arsenal supporters will undoubtedly be monitoring developments closely.
While the defender has shown his commitment by continuing to play through injury, there will also be hope that he can receive the necessary recovery time once the World Cup concludes.
For now, Saliba appears determined to keep pushing through the discomfort in pursuit of international glory with France.