Barcelona midfielder Gavi is likely to be out for the rest of the season, and will probably miss the European Championships in June, after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament playing for Spain.
The 19-year-old's right knee injury looks to be the most serious of those sustained in the current international break so far.
Domestic rivals Real Madrid and Real Sociedad have also lost players.
Gavi limped off 25 minutes into Spain's Euro 2024 qualifier against Georgia on Sunday.
Barca said in a statement that tests carried out on Monday morning have shown he has "a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and an associated injury to the lateral meniscus". He will undergo surgery in the coming days.
The extent of the injury is a big blow for Barcelona, who are currently third in LaLiga, with Gavi having established himself as a key player in their squad since making his debut at 17 years old in August 2021, making 111 appearances already.
Speaking after the match, Spain boss Luis de la Fuente described the win as "bittersweet".
He added: "It's the hardest, the bitterest of moments, to see an important player like Gavi sustain an injury like that."
Real Madrid will be without Vinicius Junior for about two months because of a muscle tear the forward sustained in Brazil's 2-1 loss at Colombia on Friday. The 23-year-old has scored six goals for Madrid this season.
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti will also be without Eduardo Camavinga until the new year. The 21-year-old midfielder tore a ligament in his right knee in training with France.
Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Oyarzabal -- one of the key players for the sixth-place club -- suffered a muscle injury for Spain against Cyprus.
with AP
Australian Associated Press
