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Eder Militao to miss FIFA World Cup after new hamstring setback for Real Madrid and Brazil, surgery rules defender out until 2026-27 season return.
Eder Militao has been ruled out of the FIFA World Cup (Picture credit: AFP)
Star Brazil and Real Madrid centre-back Eder Militao is set to miss the upcoming FIFA World Cup due to injury, according to reports. According to journalist Miguel Ángel Díaz, the situation surrounding Militão is more serious than feared.
After suffering a fresh setback in his left leg during the recent 2-1 victory over Deportivo Alavés, subsequent medical tests have confirmed the worst-case scenario for Militão.
The report states that the injury, a reopening of a previous scar, will require surgical intervention to address the problem. As a result, Militão is all set to miss international competition this summer, ruling him out of representing Brazil on the biggest stage in a year where he was expected to be a key pillar of their defence.
The journalist from COPE shared the update on social media. While the club’s initial medical statement remained optimistic, Diaz indicated that the clinical situation for Militão is more serious than first suggested.
“Eder Militao will undergo surgery for his new hamstring injury in his left leg. The Brazilian suffered a recurrence of the scar tissue from his initial injury sustained in December against Celta Vigo,” Diaz wrote.
This marks a painful setback in what has already been an injury-disrupted season for Militão. The defender had recently returned to action after four months on the sidelines, even starting in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich.
Real Madrid had been managing Militao’s workload to prevent a recurrence, but just as he seemed to be regaining momentum, his fifth appearance back ended in another serious setback.
The club now expects Militao to target a return for the start of the 2026–27 season.
Militão is expected to undergo surgery in the coming days, followed by a lengthy rehab process. While his teammates prepare for the opening matches of the FIFA World Cup in June, he will remain sidelined and is unlikely to return until the start of Real Madrid’s next pre-season.
For Brazil, coach Carlo Ancelotti will need to reassess his defensive setup for the tournament.
April 26, 2026, 01:25 IST
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