Real Madrid Star Set to Miss World Cup After Suffering ACL Injury
- A key Real Madrid attacker has been ruled out for up to seven months after scans confirmed a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury
- The setback means he will miss the upcoming World Cup in June, dealing a major blow to both club and country
- Madrid now face a mounting selection crisis ahead of their clash with Celta Vigo, with limited attacking options and multiple absences
- A Ghana journalist has reacted to the injury setback suffered by Rodrygo, suggesting it could have major consequences for Brazil ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup
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A Real Madrid superstar is set to miss the upcoming World Cup after suffering an injury that will sideline him for up to seven months.
The 2025/26 campaign is nearing its climax, with title races across Europe’s top leagues intensifying as the final fixtures approach.
Source: Getty Images
Once the domestic season concludes, attention will quickly shift to the World Cup in June, where many of football’s biggest names are expected to take centre stage.
With the tournament now just three months away, players are acutely aware that any injury setback at this stage of the season could end their hopes of competing on the international stage.
That fear has now become reality for one of Madrid’s key figures, who has reportedly sustained a season-ending injury.
On Monday evening, Real Madrid were beaten 1-0 by Getafe CF in their La Liga meeting at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Getafe striker Martin Satriano opened the scoring in the 39th minute, leaving the hosts chasing an equaliser.
Rodrygo injured, set to miss World Cup
Rodrygo was introduced shortly before the hour mark after spending nearly a month sidelined with tendinitis.
However, just minutes after coming on, the Brazilian forward went down clutching his knee after it was caught in a challenge, sparking immediate fears of a serious injury.
Source: Getty Images
Although the 25-year-old was able to continue and finish the match, further examinations told a different story.
According to Spanish outlet Marca, scans carried out on Tuesday morning confirmed that Rodrygo has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee, ruling him out for the remainder of the season.
The diagnosis also means he will not represent Brazil in upcoming friendlies against France national football team and Croatia national football team, nor will he feature in their World Cup opener against Morocco national football team on June 13.
Rodrygo injury blow linked to Mohammed Salisu’s absence
Ghanaian sports broadcaster Joseph Hanson has reacted to the injury setback suffered by Rodrygo, suggesting it could have major consequences ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
Hanson noted that Rodrygo’s situation mirrors the unfortunate injury suffered by Mohammed Salisu, which is also expected to rule the defender out of the global tournament.
“It’s a painful situation for any player,” he told YEN.com.gh. “Rodrygo missing the World Cup because of injury reminds me of what has happened to Mohammed Salisu. Both players were expected to play key roles for their countries.”
Hanson added that injuries at such a crucial stage of the season can be devastating for players who have spent years preparing for football’s biggest stage.
“The World Cup is the dream of every footballer,” he explained. “For players like Rodrygo and Salisu to miss it through injury is heartbreaking, especially when they were both likely to be important for their national teams.”
Rodrygo's setback leaves Real Madrid with limited attacking options ahead of their trip to face Celta Vigo.
Vinicius Jr and Gonzalo Garcia are currently the only available strikers, with Kylian Mbappe also nursing an injury.
Adding to their concerns, Franco Mastantuono is suspended after receiving a red card in the closing moments of the defeat to Getafe.
Kylian Mbappe misses Benfica clash
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Kylian Mbappe missed the second leg of Real Madrid’s Champions League play-off against Benfica after sustaining a knee injury during training.
According to L’Equipe, Mbappe left Madrid’s training session on Tuesday due to persistent pain in his left knee.
He underwent tests later in the afternoon, which confirmed that it would be impossible for him to feature against Benfica.
Source: YEN.com.gh
