Real Madrid Star Ruled Out of 2026 World Cup After Injury: Militão Requires Surgery

Éder Militão to Miss the World Cup

According to Главком: Real Madrid defender Éder Militão will not travel to North America for this year's World Cup. The news was reported by Glavcom, citing COPE. Militão has been diagnosed with an injury to the biceps femoris muscle in his left thigh, and a previous muscle scar has also reopened. As a result, he will need to undergo surgery.

This season, Militão has played 21 matches across all competitions, scoring two goals and providing one assist. The Brazilian previously participated in the 2022 World Cup with his national team. The center-back had initially planned to treat the issue conservatively until the end of the season, hoping to recover in time for the Mundial.

Changes in National Team Coaching Staff

In other developments, Carlos Queiroz has been appointed head coach of the Ghanaian national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Queiroz replaces Otto Addo in the role. The Portuguese manager has previously led both Portugal and Iran at World Cup tournaments. Additionally, Zinedine Zidane has given his preliminary consent to return to coaching and will become the next manager of the French national team after the 2026 World Cup.

Militão's absence from the World Cup could significantly impact Brazil's squad, given his crucial role in their defense. His injury highlights the importance of proper physical conditioning and medical management for elite athletes. Meanwhile, the coaching changes for Ghana and France may shift team dynamics ahead of major international competitions like the World Cup. Fans will be watching closely to see how these developments affect each team's preparation for the tournament.

Militão's situation mirrors that of other players facing injury challenges, such as Chelsea's Estevan, who has also been ruled out for the season, raising questions about his availability for the upcoming tournament. This underscores the unpredictable nature of player fitness as teams prepare for the World Cup. For more on Estevan's injury and its implications for his World Cup prospects, see his recent update.