Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcantara has been ruled out of the FIFA World Cup 2014 after suffering a knee injury.

The Bayern Munich midfield maestro was expected to play a key role for the reigning world and European champions in this summer’s football extravaganza in Brazil but his injury means he will have to watch the event from his home in Bavaria.

The 23 year old was named in the provisional 30-man squad by Spain boss Vicente Del Bosque but the youngster will have to undergo a knee surgery after tearing a ligament last week.

He will also miss out on his team’s DFB Pokal final against Borussia Dortmund this weekend.

A Bayern Munich official released a statement confirming the setback for the Brazilian born Spanish midfielder and Bayern chief executive Karl Heinz Rummenigge said that it was a bitter blow for the player and that he feels sorry for him as well.

Thiago has missed a lot of action during the latter stages of the season but he hoped to be fit for the final few weeks with an eye on a place in the FIFA World Cup 2014 squad but this latest injury blow has completely ruled him out of the competition and he will not be able to return to action before November at the earliest.

Rummenigge went on to add that Thiago is a young player who dreamt of playing the World Cup in Brazil, where his father, former footballer and World Cup winner Mazinho hails from but those dreams have been shattered cruelly.

The German legend said the club will look after him and will give him all the attention medically that he needs to get him fit for the start of the season but missing the FIFA World Cup 2014 will be a bitter pill to swallow for him.