Real Madrid forward Rodrygo Goes has expressed his heartbreak after a devastating ACL and meniscus tear shattered his 2026 World Cup dreams.
Rodrygo who become fan favorites in the Brazil national team will be out for the next few weeks after sustaining an injury in Madrid’s 1-0 loss to Getafe on Sunday.
Real Madrid on Tuesday confirmed on that Rodrygo has suffered a season-ending injury.
The worst possible fears were realised following extensive medical examinations on Tuesday morning, which evaluated the knee problem sustained against Getafe.
Rodrygo reacts during the LaLiga match between Real Madrid and Getafe. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
According to the club’s official statement: “After the tests carried out today on our player Rodrygo by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament and a rupture of the external meniscus of the right leg.”
Rodrygo had recently returned from a month-long absence due to tendonitis, and would need to prove he has the work on ground.
The Brazilian international took to his Instagram account to share his immense grief, describing the moment as one of the saddest days of his life.
Rodrygo admitted that this exact diagnosis represents a nightmare scenario he had always deeply feared throughout his entire professional journey.
“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… I don’t know if I deserve this, but what can I complain about? How many wonderful things have I experienced that I also didn’t deserve,” he wrote.
“A major obstacle has arisen in my life, in my career, preventing me from doing what I love most for a while. I am 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. All I can do is be strong as always, which is nothing new.”
Rodrygo is now set to shift his focus toward the grueling rehabilitation process ahead. The recovery timeline for a combined ACL and meniscus tear typically spans between seven and nine months.
He will miss the crucial run-in for La Liga and the Champions League. He now faces a massive race against time just to be fit for the 2026-27 pre-season.
