Real Madrid are currently navigating a difficult period on the pitch, and their situation has grown increasingly dire following devastating news regarding Rodrygo. The Brazil international sustained a major injury during a recent defeat against Getafe, casting a dark shadow over his availability for the 2026 World Cup.
“Following tests carried out today on our player Rodrygo by Real Madrid’s medical services, he has been diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and a torn outer meniscus in his right leg,” Real Madrid stated in an official statement.
While an official timetable for his return has not yet been released, transfer insider Fabrizio Romano reports that Rodrygo could be sidelined for up to 10 months. This extended recovery window would see the Brazilian forward out of action for the remainder of the calendar year, with a projected return to competitive play estimated for early 2027.
Beyond the significant blow to both Real Madrid and Brazil, the timing of the injury is particularly cruel for the player himself. Rodrygo had only just returned to action after being sidelined for nearly a month due to a persistent bout of tendinitis.
To suffer a season-ending ACL injury in his first match back represents a heartbreaking turn of events for the young forward, who had been working diligently to regain match fitness ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Injury crisis at Real Madrid
Rodrygo’s long-term absence presents a major tactical headache for Alvaro Arbeloa, as Real Madrid find themselves depleted of attacking options. Joining the Brazilian on the sidelines is Kylian Mbappe, who has suffered a recurrence of knee issues. This development has sparked significant concern within the France national team setup as they monitor his fitness ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
For their upcoming fixture, Arbeloa’s available frontline is remarkably thin, consisting only of Vinicius Jr. and youth product Gonzalo Garcia. The selection crisis is further exacerbated by the absence of Franco Mastantuono, who is awaiting a ruling on his suspension length following a straight red card in the defeat to Getafe.
The problems for Real Madrid are not confined to the frontline, as the injury crisis has decimated the spine of the team. Arbeloa is also currently without the services of Eduardo Camavinga, Jude Bellingham, and Eder Militao, all of whom are at varying stages of recovery from their respective ailments. While Camavinga’s absence is expected to be brief, the outlook for Bellingham and Militao is more complex, as their goal is to make a full recovery in time for the 2026 World Cup.