Real Madrid injury latest: Rodrygo, Militao and Mendy face waits for return

Real Madrid will begin the new season without several important players, with Rodrygo and Eder Militao facing extended spells on the sidelines and Ferland Mendy also recovering from surgery.

Rodrygo is not expected to return until the beginning of 2027 after suffering damage to his anterior cruciate ligament and lateral meniscus in his right knee. The Brazilian has been out since 18 March, and his rehabilitation is expected to take between 10 and 12 months.

The latest update was provided on Sunday by Spanish radio station COPE journalist Arancha Rodriguez, who said Rodrygo’s recovery timetable could keep him out until the early months of next year.

Real Madrid confirmed in March that Rodrygo had undergone successful surgery to repair a tear to the anterior cruciate ligament and external meniscus in his right leg. He subsequently began a rehabilitation programme.

Militao is expected to return sooner, although his recovery has also involved surgery and a significant absence. The defender sustained an injury to the biceps femoris muscle in his left leg during Real Madrid’s match against Alaves on 21 April.

The club later confirmed that Militao had suffered a tear to the proximal tendon of the same muscle. He underwent successful surgery on 28 April and is expected to be unavailable for between four and five months, placing his possible return in September or October.

His latest injury is particularly concerning because of his previous fitness problems. Militao had only returned to action in April after missing almost four months with an earlier injury to the biceps femoris muscle.

The Brazil international has also suffered two anterior cruciate ligament tears since 2024, adding to the importance of a cautious recovery.

Mendy is another Real Madrid defender currently out of action. The France full-back injured the tendon of the rectus femoris muscle in his right leg and underwent successful surgery in May.

His recovery is expected to take between five and seven months, which would put a possible return towards the end of this year.

Real Madrid are also monitoring the progress of young midfielder Thiago Pitarch. He suffered a sprain to the medial collateral ligament in his knee on 26 July.

Pitarch’s expected absence is considerably shorter than those of his team-mates. He is expected to miss between three and four weeks, with a return possible at the end of August or the beginning of September.

The club continue preparations for the new season while waiting for the injured players to progress through their respective rehabilitation programmes. Rodrygo faces the longest road back, while Militao, Mendy and Pitarch have earlier return windows depending on how their recoveries develop.