Italy striker Christian Vieri needs surgery on his knee and will miss the World Cup in Germany.
The former Internazionale and Milan man moved to Monaco in January for first-team football, in order to make the tournament.
And the 32-year-old had forced his way back into contention for Marcello Lippi's squad, after scoring three in seven league games for the Stade Louis II outfit.
But Monaco's medical staff have now decided the injury Vieri picked up in Monaco's 1-1 draw with Paris Saint Germain rules him out of reckoning for the Azzurri.
The news will come as a disappointment for the international coach, who had said he would give Vieri right up until his May 15 deadline to name his squad.
The prolific striker's age means that this was likely to be his last World Cup.
It is not yet clear whether his international career will also be concluded following the news.
