Real Madrid’s Rodrygo Out for World Cup With Knee Injury

By Eppe Franklyne

• Real Madrid winger Rodrygo Goes suffers a ruptured ACL and lateral meniscus tear in his right knee.
• Injury sustained as a substitute in Monday’s 1-0 La Liga loss to Getafe CF.
• Rodrygo’s injury rules him out of the FIFA World Cup 2026 with Brazil.
• The forward had recently returned from a month-long absence due to tendonitis.
• Real Madrid will also miss him in their UEFA Champions League last-16 clash against Manchester City; only three fit attackers remain: Vinícius Júnior, Gonzalo García, and Franco Mastantuono.

Real Madrid said Tuesday its winger Rodrygo Goes has suffered a severe knee injury, expected to keep him out of the FIFA World Cup 2026 with Brazil this summer.

“Following the tests carried out today on our player Rodrygo by Real Madrid’s medical services, he has been diagnosed with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament and a tear of the lateral meniscus in his right leg,” the club said in a statement.

Rodrygo appeared as a substitute in Madrid’s 1-0 home La Liga defeat by Getafe CF on Monday, where he sustained the injury. The 25-year-old stayed on the pitch, but tests revealed the severity of the injury on Tuesday.

He had only just returned to action after a month out with tendonitis.

Real Madrid will also miss him with French superstar Kylian Mbappé sidelined due to a knee sprain, leaving coach Alvaro Arbeloa with just three fit attackers — Vinícius Júnior, Gonzalo García, and Franco Mastantuono — ahead of next week’s UEFA Champions League last-16 clash against Manchester City.