LOS ANGELES (AP) – David Beckham could miss the rest of the Los Angeles Galaxy’s season after being diagnosed with a sprained right knee Thursday.

The English midfielder underwent an MRI exam that confirmed he sprained the medial collateral ligament in his knee, the team said in a statement.

Beckham, 32, was injured in a tackle with Pachuca midfielder Fernando Salazar in the first half of Wednesday night’s SuperLiga title match. The Galaxy lost 4-3 on penalty kicks.

He was expected to be out about six weeks, and will immediately begin rehabilitation, the team said.

That would place his return at mid-October, when the Galaxy would have three regular-season games remaining – against Toronto FC on Oct. 13, New York on Oct. 18 and at Chicago on Oct. 21.

He had already been nursing a left ankle injury that caused him to miss seven games since joining the team July 13. That injury occurred while playing for England on June 6.

Beckham’s extended absence deals a serious blow to the already slim chance the Galaxy had of making the playoffs. Its MLS record is 3-10-5 – last in the Western Conference.