Rodrygo, the Top First Player to Miss the 2026 World Cup

JAKARTA - Brazilian winger Rodrygo will miss the 2026 World Cup. An ACL injury to his right knee has forced Rodrygo to sit out for a long time, making him the first top player to miss the biggest football tournament.

Rodrygo suffered an injury while playing for Real Madrid in the match against Getafe in the Spanish LaLiga competition at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Tuesday, March 3, 2026 WIB. Rodrygo actually just recovered from a tendon injury that forced him to rest for a month.

In the match that ended with Madrid's 1-0 defeat, it was Rodrygo's first appearance and he came on as a substitute. However, he did not last long because he suffered a more serious injury.

Yes, the 25-year-old player suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury, which is a tear in one of the main ligaments in the middle of the knee that connects the thigh bone to the tibia. The injury that takes a long time to recover is experienced in Rodrygo's right knee.

Rodrygo's injury was confirmed directly by Madrid. In an official statement, the club stated that Rodrygo had undergone a more intensive examination on Tuesday morning local time. From the results of the examination it was known that the player had an ACL injury so he had to end the competition sooner.

"After undergoing a series of tests on our player Rodrygo conducted by Real Madrid's Medical Department, he was diagnosed with a tear in the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus on his right leg," the club explained.

Meanwhile, Rodrygo admitted that he was shocked to suffer an injury that made him have to undergo recovery for quite some time. "This is one of the worst days of my life. This is also an injury that I am afraid of. It seems that life is quite cruel for me," he said on social media.

"I don't know if I deserve to experience it but who should I complain to? But there are also many extraordinary events that I really don't deserve," said Rodrygo.

As a result of his injury, Rodrygo not only ended the competition earlier, but he will also be absent at the 2026 World Cup. "I have to miss the club until the end of the season and miss the World Cup with the national team. This is a dream for every player and it really means a lot to me," he said.

"What I do is stay strong. Nothing new," said Rodrygo, who has played 27 times for Madrid this season. He has scored three goals and made six assists.

Rodrygo became the first top player to be forced to miss the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo also suffered an injury while playing for Al Nasser. However, Ronaldo's hamstring injury is not serious and he is predicted to still be able to appear at the World Cup.