Real Madrid: Rodrygo's emotional message after his injury

Madrid, Spain – Real Madrid forward Rodrygo has broken his silence after learning the full extent of the knee injury that will end his 2025-2026 campaign and keep him out of Brazil’s squad for the 2026 World Cup.

Medical tests confirmed an anterior cruciate ligament tear and damage to the lateral meniscus, an immediate verdict that rules the 24-year-old out for what club doctors estimate will be “weeks, possibly months.” The diagnosis also extinguishes Rodrygo’s hopes of featuring on home soil when football’s global showpiece kicks off across North America next summer.

In a candid Instagram post the Brazilian international called the moment “one of the worst days of my life,” admitting he had “always feared this injury.” Writing directly to Madridistas and Seleção supporters, Rodrygo added: “Maybe life has been a bit cruel to me lately... I don’t know if I deserve this, but what can I complain about? I have experienced so many wonderful things that I probably didn’t deserve either.”

The forward, who has been a regular on the club’s right flank since arriving from Santos, acknowledged the personal magnitude of the setback: “A major obstacle has arisen in my life, in my career, and will keep me from doing what I love most for some time. I am ruled out for the rest of the season with my club and for the World Cup with my country, a dream that everyone knows is so important to me.”

Despite the bleak prognosis, Rodrygo struck a defiant tone, insisting his story is far from finished. “All I can do is stay strong as always, that’s nothing new,” he wrote. “Thank you all for your prayers, your messages, and your affection! You mean so much to me. Even though this is a very tough moment, I promise I won’t stop here, I believe I still have many incredible things to experience and to bring joy to all those who believe in me. This is just a goodbye... God is still in control.”

Real Madrid have yet to outline a detailed rehabilitation schedule, but the club confirmed the player will begin immediate treatment under the supervision of their medical staff. With La Liga, the Champions League and the looming Club World Cup all on the horizon, Carlo Ancelotti’s attacking options have been thinned at a pivotal stage of the season.

Rodrygo’s absence also leaves Brazil coach Tite – assuming the federation retains him through the World Cup – scrambling for alternatives on the right wing, a position the youngster had made his own during CONMEBOL qualifying.

For now, Madrid fans will have to wait to see the effervescent dribbles and timely goals that have become Rodrygo’s trademark. The player himself, however, remains resolute: his next chapter, he insists, is simply on pause.