Cavani Injury Deals Major Blow to Boca Juniors Ahead of Club World Cup Showdown with Benfica

• by Arlen Fitzpatrick
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Cavani’s Absence Casts Shadow Over Boca Juniors’ Club World Cup Hopes

Edinson Cavani’s name has been synonymous with big goals and even bigger moments, and for Boca Juniors fans, his presence at the front line was all but essential heading into the much-anticipated FIFA Club World Cup 2025. Now, in a gut punch for the squad and its followers, Cavani is officially out for their opening clash with Benfica—all due to a muscle injury picked up during last-minute training sessions.

The timing couldn’t be worse. At 38, Cavani brings not just a legendary scoring record but also a wealth of experience, something you can’t just pull off the bench. He’s been central to Boca’s plans in this tournament, famously pushing the squad and speaking about their hunger to bring home the trophy. With Group C opponents like Bayern Munich lurking ahead, Boca isn’t exactly afforded much breathing space, and now they lose their most established attacking threat for at least the first test.

Searching for Solutions Without Their Go-To Striker

Boca’s manager, Diego Martínez, now faces what amounts to his first major tactical headache of this campaign. Finding a replacement for a player like Cavani isn’t just about plugging someone else into the lineup. Cavani’s leadership on and off the pitch is hard to replicate. His knack for reading play, positioning himself perfectly at crunch moments, and turning half-chances into highlight-reel goals has been key to Boca’s run so far.

The squad’s striking options aren't totally barren, but none carries quite the same reputation or reliability under pressure. Young Argentine talents like Luca Langoni may get a shot to impress, while seasoned backup forwards face the test of their Boca careers. But facing Benfica—one of Europe’s most disciplined defensive sides—won’t do these alternatives any favors. Boca’s fans remember too well what it’s like to have a lone wolf leading the line amid continental giants, and they know Cavani’s absence could make all the difference in a high-stakes group battle.

What’s still unclear is just how long Cavani will be out. While team doctors are working overtime, no one from the club is talking specific return dates. That uncertainty hangs over not only the Benfica match in Miami but potentially the next stretch against Bayern Munich and Auckland City as well. For Boca, every missed minute from Cavani cuts deep into their chances of controlling games, not just through goals but through the contagious belief he injects on the pitch.

The Boca camp remains tight-lipped about tactical tweaks, but expect Martínez to shuffle his midfield and wing play—more crosses, more midfield runs—to make up for the physical absence in the box. With ambitions of making a mark on the world’s stage, the team’s opening performance might set the tone for what’s to come, whether Cavani returns soon or not. For now, Boca Juniors face an uphill battle, forced to adapt and rally without their talisman under the bright lights of Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.