Mamelodi Sundowns striker Brayan León has undergone surgery after being injured in the club’s CAF Super Cup final against USM Alger, according to a report by GOAL. The report, by Steve Blues, cites a source quoted by Soccer Laduma as saying the Colombian forward is expected to miss the rest of the year.
Sundowns have not issued a formal medical update, GOAL reported, and the exact nature of the injury and recovery timetable have not been publicly detailed. The expected absence should therefore be treated as a report rather than a confirmed club announcement.
Injury came in the Super Cup final
León was forced off early in Sunday’s final at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria. The Confederation of African Football’s match report says he left with an apparent groin injury. Iqraam Rayners replaced him, and Sundowns later lost 3–1 to USM Alger.
The final came after a difficult continental spell for the South African side. CAF reports that Sundowns were eliminated from the 2026/27 Champions League qualifying rounds by Angola’s Wiliete SC, despite winning the previous season’s competition. The Super Cup had offered the club another chance at continental silverware, but USM Alger claimed the trophy in Pretoria.
What his absence could mean
If the reported recovery period is borne out, León’s unavailability would leave coach Miguel Cardoso with fewer options in attack through the closing weeks of the year. Rayners came on for him in the final, but Sundowns will have to assess their available forwards and adapt match by match while the striker recovers.
León, who joined Sundowns from Colombian side Independiente Medellín in 2025, has been used as a central attacking option. The extent to which the club changes its forward line will depend on the squad’s health and the eventual medical assessment. No return date has been confirmed by Sundowns.
Image: Brayan León of Mamelodi Sundowns. Backpage