Overview
- Rodrygo tore his right anterior cruciate ligament and lateral meniscus on March 2, 2026, a season-ending injury that also ruled him out of Brazil’s World Cup squad.
- He underwent surgery on March 10 and has since followed an intensive physiotherapy and gym programme that outlets describe as progressing ahead of initial estimates.
- Spanish newspaper Diario AS and wider coverage now project medical clearance could arrive in January, moving the timeline toward roughly ten months rather than the earlier 12-month prognosis.
- The club has kept him involved at Valdebebas during pre-season, he has been walking normally for weeks and he has taken on a greater leadership role as fourth in the updated captaincy order.
- While an earlier clearance would reduce his time sidelined, Real Madrid and medical sources caution that regaining full match fitness and a starting place will require extra months and a phased reintegration.