Real Madrid defender Eder Militao is facing a race against time to recover from hamstring surgery and is widely expected to miss the World Cup this summer, dealing a significant blow to both club and country.
Madrid confirmed on Tuesday that the 28-year-old Brazilian underwent a successful operation for a rupture of the proximal tendon of the biceps femoris in his left leg. The procedure was carried out at a clinic in Finland under the supervision of the club’s medical staff. No official timeline for his return was given, but Spanish and Brazilian media reports suggest he faces a minimum absence of five months.
That prognosis effectively rules Militao out of the World Cup, which takes place this summer across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Brazil, five-time winners of the tournament and among the favourites heading into the competition, will now be forced to plan without one of their key defensive options.
Militao sustained the injury last week during a La Liga victory over Alaves, the latest in a deeply unfortunate run of physical setbacks since he joined Madrid from Porto in 2019. He has previously suffered two lengthy absences due to cruciate ligament ruptures, and this latest blow will do little to ease concerns about his durability at the highest level.
