Brazil winger Rodrygo has seemingly been ruled out of FIFA World Cup 2026™. The 25-year-old tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee after coming on in Real Madrid’s 1-0 to loss Getafe on Monday evening.
Rodrygo came off the bench in all five of Brazil’s games at Qatar 2022, missing the first penalty in the shootout defeat to Croatia in the quarter-finals. Thereafter, he established himself as an important figure, starting all four of the Seleção’s outings at the last Copa America and playing in all four matches under Carlo Ancelotti, his former Madrid coach.
In October, Rodrygo bagged a brace in a 5-0 win over Korea Republic, while the following month he set up Casemiro’s goal in a 2-0 reverse of Senegal. Overall, the Osasco native has netted nine times in 37 caps.
Brazil reached the North American extravaganza to ensure their proud status as the World Cup’s only ever-presents will continue. They will play Morocco in New York New Jersey, Haiti in Philadelphia and Scotland in Miami in Group C.
Brazil have won a record five World Cups, but haven’t triumphed since Ronaldo fired them to glory at Korea/Japan 2002. They have fallen at the quarter-finals in four of the last five editions, and infamously lost 7-1 to Germany on home turf in the 2014 semis.
Ancelotti became one of the biggest coaching appointments in international history in May 2025. Despite losing Rodrygo, the Italian has a wealth of attacking options at his disposal including Antony, Endrick, Estevao, Gabriel Martinelli, Igor Jesus, Igor Thiago, Joao Pedro, Kaio Jorge, Luiz Henrique, Matheus Cunha, Neymar, Raphinha, Richarlison, Savinho, Vinicius Jr and Vitor Roque.
