Real Madrid forward refuses surgery despite anterior cruciate ligament tear

Rodrygo reportedly showed signs of a partial ACL tear earlier, before the pain intensified recently, nearly eliminating the 2001-born player's chances of playing.

Recently, forward Rodrygo was diagnosed with an anterior cruciate ligament tear and a lateral meniscus tear in the knee. This injury occurred during the 0-1 home loss against Getafe in La Liga's 26th round. Rodrygo is expected to be sidelined for up to a year, meaning he will miss the World Cup taking place in the USA, Canada, and Mexico this summer.

Notably, according to sources from The Athletic, after thorough examination by doctors in 2023, the decision was made that the Real Madrid forward would not undergo surgery for his partial ACL tear; at that time he had returned to the Spanish capital and remained eligible to play.

Sources indicate that conservative treatment was considered appropriate because a partial ACL tear does not always require surgery. They acknowledged the risk that the ligament injury could worsen, but that risk could be reasonably minimized through enhanced preventive measures like physiotherapy and gym training.

The source also affirmed that the handling procedure at that time was correct, and football has seen many similar cases. This was reflected in the statements from Rodrygo's close representatives to The Athletic when asked about this issue.

The spokesperson for the Brazilian player, Fernando Torres, stated: “All his physical issues always receive the most suitable solutions to ensure optimal recovery and performance. Currently, the priority is treating this injury and focusing all efforts and energy on the player's return to the pitch.”

Before suffering the severe injury, Rodrygo had just made his first appearance for Real Madrid since February 1st, after treating inflammation in his right hamstring tendon.

In his latest Instagram post, Rodrygo wrote: “One of the worst days of my life, I've always feared this injury… Life has been somewhat cruel to me lately. I don't know if I deserve this, but what can I complain about? I've experienced so many wonderful things, things I probably didn't deserve either.”

Rodrygo is the fifth Real Madrid player to suffer an ACL tear since summer 2023. Previously, the list included goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, David Alaba, and Dani Carvajal. His compatriot Eder Militao also suffered similar injuries twice in recent seasons, in August 2023 and November 2024.