Alphonso Davies said he sat out Canada's World Cup-ending 3-0 loss to Morocco on Saturday because his hamstring wasn't 100% going into the last-16 match.
Davies and head coach Jesse Marsch both said the team captain "felt something" in his troublesome hamstring during Friday's training session. Despite his best efforts to recover in time, Davies didn't feel confident he would be able to make a positive impact against Morocco.
"I don't want to be a burden on the team, or (be) on the pitch not giving my all," Davies told Kristian Jack of OneSoccer after Canada's best-ever run at a men's World Cup came to an end.
"It's an injury where you can't take any risk," the 25-year-old continued.
"With my history of hamstring injuries ... it's something that's very delicate, especially with my game, (which is) a lot of speed, a lot running."
The Bayern Munich star, who has been fighting to return ever since his latest hamstring setback in May, was expected to feature against Morocco after making his tournament debut off the bench in the previous round versus South Africa. Marsch said the plan was for Davies to play 30-35 minutes against Morocco and that he was on a "very linear path" to accomplish that until Friday's setback.
But with Canada trailing in the second half and needing an offensive spark, Davies remained on the bench. He was seen sprinting at halftime, testing out his hamstring, and also holding a massage gun on the sidelines.
"I was doing my sprints and every time I took a step, I felt something," Davies explained.
"For Alphonso, he's learning to trust his body again. He's been through a lot the last year and three months," Marsch told TSN's Matthew Scianitti, referencing the multiple hamstring issues Davies has sustained since a torn ACL in March 2025. "As much as he wanted to play in this game, and we wanted him to play in this game, we just didn't want to risk him."
Davies ultimately played just 15 minutes in the tournament.
"It killed him more than anyone (not to play), but I think it was the right decision to preserve him and his career, and get him fully healthy," Marsch said.
