Real Madrid forward Rodrygo Goes has been ruled out for the remainder of the season and will miss the upcoming World Cup after suffering a serious knee injury.
The Brazilian attacker has been diagnosed with a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament and a rupture of the lateral meniscus in his right knee.
The injury was confirmed the day after Real Madrid’s surprising 1-0 loss to Getafe at the Santiago Bernabéu. The result was a blow to Madrid’s title hopes, but it has been overshadowed by the news of Rodrygo’s long-term absence.
Rodrygo did not start the match but was brought on as an early substitute in the second half by manager Álvaro Arbeloa, who was hoping to change the game’s direction.
However, Madrid was unable to find a way past a determined Getafe defense. The defeat leaves the team four points behind league leaders Barcelona in the title race.
Following the final whistle, the club’s medical staff examined the player. Further tests were carried out throughout the following morning, and around midday, the worst fears were confirmed. Rodrygo will now face a long road to recovery, with an expected layoff of around seven months.
This season, the 22-year-old had made 19 appearances in LaLiga, scoring one goal and providing four assists. In the Champions League, he featured in five games, finding the back of the net once and adding two assists.
The injury puts even more pressure on manager Arbeloa, who is now without a string of key first-team players. The treatment room already contained stars such as Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, Éder Militão, Dani Ceballos, and Raúl Asencio.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) released an official statement expressing its full support for the player.
“The Brazilian Football Confederation expresses its solidarity with athlete Rodrygo Goes, forward for Real Madrid and the Brazilian National Team, who suffered a serious injury during the match against Getafe in the Spanish League,” the statement read. “Rodrygo sustained an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament and the lateral meniscus in his right knee. The CBF wishes the athlete a speedy recovery and a swift return to the fields.”
Rodrygo’s absence is a massive setback for both his club and his country, robbing them of one of the most exciting young talents in world football for the remainder of the season and the sport’s biggest international stage.