Real Madrid star to miss World Cup with devastating injury blow

Real Madrid and Brazilian star Rodrygo is set to miss the World Cup after suffering an ACL injury.

The forward played 35 minutes of Los Blancos’ 1-0 defeat to Getafe on Monday night where he endured the devastating knee problem.

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He was taken off, and after a scan, it has been revealed that the versatile attacker has suffered an ACL.

Rodrygo’s also torn his MCL in the same knee as well, meaning he is likely to be out for up to ten months.

In a statement, Los Blancos said on Tuesday: “Following tests carried out today on our player Rodrygo by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and a torn lateral meniscus in his right leg.”

The 25-year-old will now undergo surgery and start his rehabilitation.

After being linked with a summer move to the Premier League, Rodrygo remained at the Bernabeu and has been a key player.

Across all competitions, he has played 27 games and has been used on the right and left wing and as a centre forward.

For his country, he has been an important player for Carlo Ancelotti.

Rodrygo played in all four of Brazil’s international friendlies across October and November last year.

He scored twice and provided an assist, and given his versatility, he would have almost certainly been going to the World Cup.

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No reunion

Rodrygo was one of the vocal members of the Brazil squad to be pushing for Neymar to receive a World Cup call-up.

The former Barcelona star is the country’s all-time leading goalscorer with 79 goals, two more than Pele.

He is back in his home country playing for Santos, and has played Brazil’s last four games.

However, there is still debate around his inclusion in the World Cup squad, though Rodrygo was adamant about it.

Speaking about Neymar, the Real Madrid star said: “It’s logical. For me, in my opinion, there’s not even a discussion.

“But we know, of course, he needs to be well, he has to be preparing, he is returning from knee surgery.

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“It won’t have the same grace to win without him, so we need him.”

Cruelly, Rodrygo has now been denied the chance to play with Neymar, but it could give the superstar a better chance to seal a place in Ancelotti’s squad.

Change in circumstance

Any decision on Neymar’s place in the World Cup is being left until the last possible moment.

Brazil are said to be monitoring the player’s fitness, given he is in his mid-30s.

However, he hasn’t been called up for the friendlies against France and Croatia.

But with Rodrygo now injured, it remains to be seen if that changes.