Rodrygo: Real Madrid injury crisis deepens with key forward facing months on sidelines | OneFootball

Forward is expected to miss World Cup and may not return in time for start of next season

Real Madrid forward Rodrygo is facing months on the sidelines after rupturing both his ACL and meniscus.

The Brazilian returned from a month-long lay-off with tendonitis to face Getafe on Monday night, but went down clutching his right knee shortly after coming on having slipped on the astroturf at the edge of the Bernabeu pitch.

Tests on Tuesday confirmed the player’s worst fears, and Madrid announced the news shortly thereafter.

The injury is a huge blow for both Real and Rodrygo, who now stands to miss the remainder of the season and will not be able to represent Brazil at this summer’s World Cup.

His absence will compound Alvaro Arbeloa’s growing selection headaches, though. He is already without Kylian Mbappe, who sprained his knee in training last week, leaving him with just three fit forwards in his squad: Vinicius Junior, Gonzalo Garcia, and Franco Mastantuono.

With Mastantuono facing a domestic suspension, he will have just two attackers at his disposal from Friday night’s La Liga clash away at Celta Vigo.

He will be more concerned, though, about next week’s Champions League round of 16 first-leg against Manchester City.

Real are already struggling for form as they face Pep Guardiola’s machine, but they must do so with Jude Bellingham, Eder Militao, Raul Asencio, Dean Huijsen and Dani Ceballos joining Mbappe and Rodrygo on the treatment table.

Arbeola has also suffered a triple suspension blow, with Huijsen, Mastantuono and Alvaro Carreras all set to serve bans.