Maccabi Haifa's Manuel Benson Tears ACL and Meniscus, Out for 2026/27 Season

Maccabi Haifa suffered a major setback as Manuel Benson, the club's highest-paid foreign winger, tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus during a Toto Cup qualification match against Hapoel Jerusalem on August 17, 2026. Benson, who joined the team in January and has a history of injuries, was substituted in late in the game but immediately injured his knee after a sharp movement, requiring evacuation on a stretcher. Initial medical assessments did not indicate an ACL tear, but subsequent examinations confirmed the severity of the injury.

Benson, who earns 600,000 euros per season and is under contract until the end of the current season, is not expected to return to play during the 2026/27 campaign. Maccabi Haifa plans to freeze his contract and seek a replacement player. This injury comes shortly after Benson recovered from Achilles tendon inflammation and was expected to be a key player under coach Barak Bachar. The club announced that Benson will begin treatment and rehabilitation according to medical guidance and expressed wishes for his full and speedy recovery, committing to support him throughout the process.