Wessam Abou Ali back from broken ankle and targets MLS top scorer

According to Goal, Columbus Crew striker Wessam Abou Ali has fully recovered from the broken ankle he suffered last October and says he is ready to stretch his hot start across a full MLS season.

Abou Ali scored in the 16th minute against Toronto before feeling something wrong in his right ankle, tried to play on and then left the match in the 28th minute; he later learned the bone was "broken all the way across," he said. Initial advice was four to six weeks out, but his rehabilitation took longer and ultimately ruled him out for the remainder of 2025. He described the struggle of recovery — the boot, pool work and setbacks — and credited the Crew's rehab programme and staying with the squad for helping him through the process.

Signed from Al-Ahly after a return that produced 28 goals in 35 games and a Club World Cup hat-trick against Porto, Abou Ali repaid the Crew with three goals in three matches after a slow start in MLS. He noted past health scares — "I had a heart attack four years ago, man" — and has set clear targets: "Top scorer in MLS, without a doubt," and a top-three finish in the Eastern Conference with trophies at season's end. He is fit again and has offered support to new boss Henrik Rydstrom, but whether he can meet those ambitions will be decided on the pitch.

Key Topics

Sports, Wessam Abou Ali, Columbus Crew, Mls, Al-ahly, Henrik Rydstrom