Fakayejo Paul
It is a devastating blow for both Real Madrid and the Brazil national team.
Following the recurrence of a hamstring injury sustained during the match against Deportivo Alavés on April 21, 2026, Éder Militão has been officially ruled out for the remainder of the season and the upcoming 2026 World Cup.
The Medical Reality
After further examinations confirmed that the scar from his previous hamstring injury—sustained last December—had reopened, Militão and Real Madrid’s medical staff made the difficult decision to opt for surgery.
- Why Surgery? While a non-surgical approach could have potentially seen him return to the pitch in roughly five weeks, it would have carried an extremely high risk of immediate reinjury. Surgery, while requiring a longer recovery period, is viewed as the only way to fully rectify the issue and prevent future long-term complications.
- Recovery Timeline: The surgical procedure is expected to sideline the 28-year-old for approximately four to five months. This timeline effectively ends his chances of joining the Seleção for this summer’s tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
A Cruel Twist of Fate
This is the latest in a series of difficult challenges for Militão, who has fought hard to maintain his form despite a string of significant injuries over the past few years, including back-to-back ACL tears in previous seasons.
Speaking on the situation, the mood surrounding the club has been one of deep sympathy for the defender, who had been working diligently to solidify his spot as a cornerstone of Brazil’s defensive unit for the World Cup.
He will now turn his focus toward a successful operation and a complete rehabilitation, with the aim of returning to full fitness in time for the start of the 2026/27 campaign.