Rabat – Real Madrid forward Rodrigo has suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and a torn meniscus in his right knee, the club confirmed the diagnosis after scans on Tuesday, following the injury he picked up in Monday’s 1-0 defeat to Getafe
Surgery will follow, and the recovery time is expected to be close to a year. That rules the 25-year-old out for the rest of Madrid’s season and the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: Rodrygo has reportedly torn his ACL and will be out for at least 𝟔 𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐇𝐒, per Marca.
No World Cup for the Brazilian 😔
Real Madrid’s current absentee list: 👇
❌ Mbappé 🤕
❌ Bellingham 🤕
❌ Rodrygo 🤕
❌ Militão 🤕
❌ Ceballos 🤕
❌ Asencio 🤕
❌… pic.twitter.com/WaAL55YToI— 433 (@433) March 3, 2026
Brazil will now have to plan without him, including for their group-stage clash against Morocco
“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,” read Madrid’s statement.
Rodrygo himself shared his emotions on Instagram: “One of the worst days of my life, how much I always feared this injury… maybe life has been a little cruel to me lately. A major obstacle has arisen in my life, in my career, and it has prevented me from doing what I love most for a while. I’m out for the rest of the season with my club and out of the World Cup with my country, a dream that everyone knows how much it means to me.”
This is the fifth ACL injury at Madrid since 2023, with Thibaut Courtois, David Alaba, Dani Carvajal, and Éder Militao also suffering similar setbacks. Militao has torn his ACL twice in recent seasons.
Rodrygo’s Recent Struggles
Rodrygo’s absence comes during a difficult campaign. He has scored only three goals in 27 appearances, starting six league games and two Champions League matches.
His minutes have dropped under both Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa, while Franco Mastantuono’s arrival further reduced his role on the right wing.
Still, his loss is significant. Rodrygo has delivered in big moments before, most famously in the 2022 Champions League semi-final against Manchester City when his two late goals sparked Madrid’s comeback.
Arbeloa will miss that kind of impact as Madrid prepare to face Celta Vigo in La Liga and Manchester City in the Champions League round of 16.
For Brazil, the blow is even heavier. Rodrygo played all five matches at the 2022 World Cup and had recently returned to the national team, scoring against South Korea and assisting against Senegal.