Real Madrid's Rodrygo out for season, to miss World Cup

Real Madrid announced on Tuesday that Brazilian international forward Rodrygo suffered torn cruciate and meniscus ligaments in his right knee in Monday's 1-0 defeat to Getafe.

Real Madrid's Rodrygo competes during the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first Leg match between Real Madrid and Chelsea FC in Madrid, Spain, on April 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)

Rodrygo will need an operation and be out for at least nine months, which means he will not only miss the rest of the season, but also the FIFA World Cup.

"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," Real Madrid said.

Rodrygo went on as a 55th-minute substitute in Monday's defeat and ended the game in pain after his studs were caught in the turf as he looked to turn in the 66th minute.

He was able to finish the game, but was in obvious pain and tests have confirmed the worst.

The news comes a day after Real Madrid confirmed that Kylian Mbappe has been sidelined with a knee strain and is undergoing a "conservative treatment" with no precise return date, just a week before the first leg of its UEFA Champions League last-16 tie against Manchester City.