Real Madrid confirmed Tuesday that forward Rodrygo has suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and a torn outer meniscus in his right knee. Rodrigo will undergo surgery, which will force the 25-year-old Brazilian to undergo one year of recovery that will rule him out of the 2026 World Cup this summer in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

"Following tests carried out today on our player Rodrygo by Real Madrid's medical services, he has been diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and a torn outer meniscus in his right leg," the club said in a statement.

Rodrygo sustained the injury after coming off the bench in Madrid's 1-0 home defeat to Getafe on Monday, playing more than 30 minutes.

The Brazilian becomes the fifth Madrid player to suffer an ACL injury since the summer of 2023. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, David Alaba, and Dani Carvajal have all sustained the same injury during that stretch. Defender Eder Militao has torn his ACL twice in that span, in August 2023 and November 2024.

Rodrygo's absence compounds an already strained Madrid injury list. Jude Bellingham has been sidelined since February 1 with a hamstring injury, while Militao has been out since December 7 with a similar problem. Top scorer Kylian Mbappe continues to manage a left knee issue and recently traveled to Paris for further evaluation, though surgery is not currently anticipated.

Rodrygo's season had already been difficult. He has scored just three goals in 27 appearances, starting only six LaLiga matches and two Champions League fixtures. Franco Mastantuono's arrival from River Plate last summer further limited his role, with Rodrygo logging just 1,106 minutes — ranking him 15th in squad usage.

On a personal level, the World Cup absence represents a significant setback. Rodrygo appeared in all five of Brazil's matches at the 2022 World Cup and had recently worked his way back into the national team picture, scoring twice in a friendly against South Korea and adding an assist against Senegal during the October and November international breaks.

Madrid, currently second in LaLiga and four points behind Barcelona, face Celta Vigo on Friday before hosting Manchester City in the Champions League round of 16 first leg on March 11.