Venezia midfielder Gianluca Busio was substituted with an injury just before halftime against Fiorentina in a Serie A match on Friday, Sept. 11.
Busio appeared to suffer a hamstring injury and was unable to put any weight on his right leg as he was helped off the field by two staff members.
The Venezia captain had assisted the game's opening goal , laying off to Akor Adams after a driving run through midfield. But Franco Mastantuono struck back with a pair of goals to make it 2-1 for the visitors before halftime.
Mastantuono would complete his hat trick in the second half as Fiorentina secured a 4-2 win, consigning Venezia to its fourth straight loss to begin the season.
The news after the game wasn't good. Venezia manager Giovanni Stroppa told DAZN : "We fear a significant injury."
The injury is a blow for Venezia and Busio, who was named captain for the club ahead of its return to the top flight after winning Serie B last season.
The 24-year-old has been with Venezia since 2021, with the club bouncing back and forth between Serie A and Serie B since then.
Busio's injury looks likely to knock him out of contention for the U.S. men's national team's four upcoming friendlies, starting with a match against Peru on Sept. 26.
Busio has 17 caps for the USMNT , most recently playing in November 2024.
1950:A clean white kit with minimal detailing, worn during a defining upset in U.S. soccer history.
Above, World Cup Brazil 1950 - England v USA. USA team group: (back row, l-r) manager Chubby Lyons, Joe Maca, Charlie Colombo, Frank Borghi, Harry Keough, Walter Bahr, coach Bill Jeffrey; (front row, l-r) Frank Wallace, Ed McIlvenny, Gino Pariani, Joe Gaetjens, John Souza, Ed Souza.
1990 (Away):A darker design featuring early geometric accents as kit styling began to evolve.
Above, The USA Soccer Team poses for the camera during the 1990 World Cup in Italy.
1990 (Home): A white base with subtle striping that marked the program’s return to the World Cup.
Above, The USA Men's team line up in their all white Adidas kit prior to a 1990 FIFA World Cup CONCACAF zone Qualifier between USA and Costa Ricca on April 30th, 1989, in St. Louis Soccer Park Fenton, United States.
1994 (Away): A stars-and-stripes motif with large-scale graphics and high-contrast color blocking.
Above, Claudio Reyna of USA consoles his teammate Cobi Jones after Brazil’s victory over the USA in the 1994 World Cup finals second round match at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto.
1994 (Home): One of the most talked-about kits ever, a denim-inspired design with white stars that drew criticism but became a cult classic.
Above, American soccer player John Harkes playing for the USA against Switzerland in a FIFA World Cup Group A match at Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan, 18th June 1994. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.
1998 (Away): Darker navy tones with subtle striping that lean into a sleeker, more global design language.
Above, USA line up before the 1998 World Cup Group F game against Germany at the Parc des Princes in Paris. USA lost 2–0.
1998 (Home): Clean white returns with sharper modern lines and a more streamlined late-1990s performance aesthetic.
Above, Pedrag Radosavlejevik of the USA runs with the ball in the match between Yugoslavia v USA in the 1998 World Cup played in Nantes, France.
2002 (Away): Dark navy with bold contrast piping, worn during a memorable quarterfinal run.
Above, USA line up for a team photo on June 21, 2002 at Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan, ahead of the quarterfinal against Germany at the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan.
2002 (Home): A crisp, simplified white kit with curved paneling that marks a shift toward performance-driven construction.
Above, The USA team pose ahead of their Group D match against Portugal at the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan in Suwon, 05 June 2002. The USA broke out to an early 1-0 lead in the contest. From L above: Brad Friedel, Brian McBride, Eddie Pope, Antony Sanneh, Jeff Agoos, Frankie Hejduk. From L bottom: Pablo Mastroeni, DaMarcus Beasley, John O'Brien, Landon Donovan, Earnie Stewart.
2006 (Away): A deep navy design with a centered stripe and minimal, structured detailing.
Above, US midfielder Landon Donovan runs for the ball during the World Cup 2006 group E football game Czech Republic vs.USA, 12 June 2006 in Gelsenkirchen.
2006 (Home): A white jersey defined by a vertical red and blue stripe framing the crest.
Above, Clint Dempsey of USA celebrates his goal during the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 match between Ghana and USA played at the Stadium Nuernberg on June 22, 2006, in Nuremberg, Germany.
2010 (Away): A darker navy base with a bold contrasting sash creating a strong visual focal point.
Above, The USA team (back row L-R) Clint Dempsey, Carlos Bocanegra, Ricardo Clark, Tim Howard, Oguchi Onyewu and Jay Demerit and (front row L-R) Steve Cherundolo, Landon Donovan, Robbie Findley, Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore of the United States pose for a team photo during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group C match between England and USA at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on June 12, 2010 in Rustenburg, South Africa.
2010 (Home): Bright white design with a subtle, tonal sash inspired by the 1950 kit.
Above, Landon Donovan of the United States celebrates with teammate Edson Buddle after scoring the winning goal that sends the USA through to the second round during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group C match between USA and Algeria at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on June 23, 2010, in Tshwane/Pretoria, South Africa.
2022 (Away): A deep navy kit with tie-dye-inspired patterning, a daring, fashion-forward direction reflecting contemporary culture.
Above, Iran and USA players compete for a header during their match in Group B of the 2022 World Cup at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on November 29, 2022. The USA won against Iran 1-0, advancing alongside England to the knockout stage. Iran plans to boycott next week's 2026 World Cup draw in Washington after the US issued visas to only four members of its delegation, denying requests for FFIRI President Mehdi Taj and others despite exemptions for athletes and coaches under Trump's travel ban.
2022 (Home): A modern white look with textured detailing and a centered crest that feels sleek, youthful, and simplified.
Above, USA's forward Timothy Weah celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group B football match between USA and Wales at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha on November 21, 2022.
See the US men’s World Cup jerseys from past to present
1950:A clean white kit with minimal detailing, worn during a defining upset in U.S. soccer history.
Above, World Cup Brazil 1950 - England v USA. USA team group: (back row, l-r) manager Chubby Lyons, Joe Maca, Charlie Colombo, Frank Borghi, Harry Keough, Walter Bahr, coach Bill Jeffrey; (front row, l-r) Frank Wallace, Ed McIlvenny, Gino Pariani, Joe Gaetjens, John Souza, Ed Souza.
See the US men’s World Cup jerseys from past to present
1950:A clean white kit with minimal detailing, worn during a defining upset in U.S. soccer history.
Above, World Cup Brazil 1950 - England v USA. USA team group: (back row, l-r) manager Chubby Lyons, Joe Maca, Charlie Colombo, Frank Borghi, Harry Keough, Walter Bahr, coach Bill Jeffrey; (front row, l-r) Frank Wallace, Ed McIlvenny, Gino Pariani, Joe Gaetjens, John Souza, Ed Souza.
See the US men’s World Cup jerseys from past to present
1990 (Away):A darker design featuring early geometric accents as kit styling began to evolve.
Above, The USA Soccer Team poses for the camera during the 1990 World Cup in Italy.
See the US men’s World Cup jerseys from past to present
1990 (Home): A white base with subtle striping that marked the program’s return to the World Cup.
Above, The USA Men's team line up in their all white Adidas kit prior to a 1990 FIFA World Cup CONCACAF zone Qualifier between USA and Costa Ricca on April 30th, 1989, in St. Louis Soccer Park Fenton, United States.
See the US men’s World Cup jerseys from past to present
1994 (Away): A stars-and-stripes motif with large-scale graphics and high-contrast color blocking.
Above, Claudio Reyna of USA consoles his teammate Cobi Jones after Brazil’s victory over the USA in the 1994 World Cup finals second round match at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto.
See the US men’s World Cup jerseys from past to present
1994 (Home): One of the most talked-about kits ever, a denim-inspired design with white stars that drew criticism but became a cult classic.
Above, American soccer player John Harkes playing for the USA against Switzerland in a FIFA World Cup Group A match at Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan, 18th June 1994. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.
See the US men’s World Cup jerseys from past to present
1998 (Away): Darker navy tones with subtle striping that lean into a sleeker, more global design language.
Above, USA line up before the 1998 World Cup Group F game against Germany at the Parc des Princes in Paris. USA lost 2–0.
See the US men’s World Cup jerseys from past to present
1998 (Home): Clean white returns with sharper modern lines and a more streamlined late-1990s performance aesthetic.
Above, Pedrag Radosavlejevik of the USA runs with the ball in the match between Yugoslavia v USA in the 1998 World Cup played in Nantes, France.
See the US men’s World Cup jerseys from past to present
2002 (Away): Dark navy with bold contrast piping, worn during a memorable quarterfinal run.
Above, USA line up for a team photo on June 21, 2002 at Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan, ahead of the quarterfinal against Germany at the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan.
See the US men’s World Cup jerseys from past to present
2002 (Home): A crisp, simplified white kit with curved paneling that marks a shift toward performance-driven construction.
Above, The USA team pose ahead of their Group D match against Portugal at the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan in Suwon, 05 June 2002. The USA broke out to an early 1-0 lead in the contest. From L above: Brad Friedel, Brian McBride, Eddie Pope, Antony Sanneh, Jeff Agoos, Frankie Hejduk. From L bottom: Pablo Mastroeni, DaMarcus Beasley, John O'Brien, Landon Donovan, Earnie Stewart.
See the US men’s World Cup jerseys from past to present
2006 (Away): A deep navy design with a centered stripe and minimal, structured detailing.
Above, US midfielder Landon Donovan runs for the ball during the World Cup 2006 group E football game Czech Republic vs.USA, 12 June 2006 in Gelsenkirchen.
See the US men’s World Cup jerseys from past to present
2006 (Home): A white jersey defined by a vertical red and blue stripe framing the crest.
Above, Clint Dempsey of USA celebrates his goal during the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 match between Ghana and USA played at the Stadium Nuernberg on June 22, 2006, in Nuremberg, Germany.
See the US men’s World Cup jerseys from past to present
2010 (Away): A darker navy base with a bold contrasting sash creating a strong visual focal point.
Above, The USA team (back row L-R) Clint Dempsey, Carlos Bocanegra, Ricardo Clark, Tim Howard, Oguchi Onyewu and Jay Demerit and (front row L-R) Steve Cherundolo, Landon Donovan, Robbie Findley, Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore of the United States pose for a team photo during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group C match between England and USA at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on June 12, 2010 in Rustenburg, South Africa.
See the US men’s World Cup jerseys from past to present
2010 (Home): Bright white design with a subtle, tonal sash inspired by the 1950 kit.
Above, Landon Donovan of the United States celebrates with teammate Edson Buddle after scoring the winning goal that sends the USA through to the second round during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group C match between USA and Algeria at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on June 23, 2010, in Tshwane/Pretoria, South Africa.
See the US men’s World Cup jerseys from past to present
2022 (Away): A deep navy kit with tie-dye-inspired patterning, a daring, fashion-forward direction reflecting contemporary culture.
Above, Iran and USA players compete for a header during their match in Group B of the 2022 World Cup at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on November 29, 2022. The USA won against Iran 1-0, advancing alongside England to the knockout stage. Iran plans to boycott next week's 2026 World Cup draw in Washington after the US issued visas to only four members of its delegation, denying requests for FFIRI President Mehdi Taj and others despite exemptions for athletes and coaches under Trump's travel ban.
See the US men’s World Cup jerseys from past to present
2022 (Home): A modern white look with textured detailing and a centered crest that feels sleek, youthful, and simplified.
Above, USA's forward Timothy Weah celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group B football match between USA and Wales at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha on November 21, 2022.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gianluca Busio injured for Venezia, dealing blow to USMNT hopes


