This injury hits Florian Wirtz and Bayer Leverkusen extremely hard: The national soccer player will be absent from the ambitious Rhinelanders and the team of national coach Hansi Flick for months due to a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

For around 25 minutes, the offensive man showed his skills in the 0:1 in the neighborhood duel against 1. FC Köln and initiated the most dangerous attacking actions of his team.

Then he fell to the ground in a duel with Luca Kilian, had to get out and received the bitter diagnosis during an MRI scan.

Wirtz caught the injury at a stage in his young career when he was in top form.

Along with Moussa Diaby, the 18-year-old playmaker was Bayer 04's most important offensive player in recent weeks.

Wirtz scored seven goals this season in the league, and he is often the decisive front link between defense and offense.

Cologne coach Steffen Baumgart felt for Wirtz.

"When you see the situation, it's very sad," said the 50-year-old before the diagnosis was announced on Sunday.

"It's very sad for all of us."

Also for the national team: Wirtz made his debut in the DFB-Elf in September and has been substituted on in four games so far.

With the Flick team he wants to go to Qatar for the World Cup in November.

"Florian Wirtz is one of the greatest talents that German football has produced in recent years," said Flick in a post on the DFB website.

"He has full support"

"That's why we were all shocked when we found out about his cruciate ligament rupture.

I've already phoned him and tried to give him courage," the national coach continued.

Wirtz is "still young, he will come back at least as strong, I'm quite sure of that," stressed Flick: "He has our full support."

Leverkusen caught the injury in the crucial phase of the season.

After center forward Patrik Schick, the next exceptional soccer player is already out.

The race for the Champions League positions is extremely close.

Bayer 04 are still up against their direct rivals RB Leipzig and TSG Hoffenheim in the league.

In the Europa League, the round of 16 second leg against Atalanta Bergamo is on the program on Thursday.