Real Madrid shaken, lose superstar striker for two consecutive years.
Rodrygo’s knee injury recovery is progressing slower than expected, leaving Real Madrid fans facing the prospect of losing the Brazilian star until 2027.
The past year has been a grueling ordeal for Rodrygo. After losing his starting place under coaches Carlo Ancelotti, Xabi Alonso, and Alvaro Arbeloa, the 25-year-old striker has now faced another injury nightmare.
In early March, Rodrygo suffered a severe injury, tearing his anterior cruciate ligament and damaging the lateral meniscus in his right knee. He immediately underwent emergency surgery.
Although initial estimates from Real Madrid’s medical team suggested he would only need six to seven months to recover, the latest assessments paint a much bleaker picture.
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AS claims that the chances of Rodrygo returning to play before January 2027 are currently very low.
According to AS, the most optimistic predictions currently suggest that Rodrygo’s return could be delayed until early 2027. This means the Brazilian striker will certainly miss the upcoming World Cup and most of the important tournaments this year with Real Madrid.
Despite the difficult situation, Rodrygo is working hard to speed up his recovery. He works daily at Valdebebas under the close supervision of specialist Davide Violati and personal fitness coach Marcel Duarte. The 25-year-old star has completed important milestones such as regaining the ability to bend his knee to 120 degrees and has begun controlled strength training exercises.
Rodrygo will definitely miss the 2026 World Cup.
During the difficult period of having to move around on crutches and in a wheelchair, the support from his close friend Eder Militao – who also suffered a similar injury – became a great source of moral support for him.
However, Real Madrid and the medical team are taking an extremely cautious approach. For a player whose playing style relies heavily on speed and agility like Rodrygo, returning too soon when his ligaments are not fully stable could lead to worse consequences.
Therefore, the possibility of returning to the pitch before January 2027 is currently considered very low. Madrid fans will have to patiently wait a long time before seeing the number 11’s runs on the Bernabeu pitch again.
