Columbus Crew midfielder Federico Higuain, the team’s all-time assists leader, is expected to miss the rest of the season after undergoing anterior cruciate ligament surgery in the coming days.
Higuain was hurt during a 3-2 loss to the Colorado Rapids on May 25. He has one goal and five assists in 14 games this season.
Higuain, who flirted with retirement before coming back on a one-year deal, is the longest-tenured member of the Crew at eight seasons.
The 34-year-old has 55 goals and 63 assists in 193 regular-season games for Columbus and helped lead the club to the MLS Cup final in 2015.
Higuain also is the club’s career leader in penalty kick goals (19), corner kicks (747) and game-winning assists (20).
Higuain began his playing career in his native Argentina before stops with Turkish club Besiktas and Mexico’s Club America. He is the older brother of forward Gonzalo Higuain, who is on loan from Juventus to Premier League club Chelsea.