Real Madrid having concerns about defender’s future after latest injury setback

Only a couple of weeks after he had been back in action, Real Madrid defender Eder Militao suffered yet another injury last week that has ruled him out of the season.

The Brazilian international will also be missing the 2026 FIFA World Cup as he is set to undergo surgery this week in Finland, which will keep him out of action for at least five months.

It would also mean that Militao would be missing the start of the 2026/27 campaign with Real Madrid later in the year.

Real Madrid worried about Militao

Now, according to MARCA, the consequences of Militao’s latest injury are still being assessed at Real Madrid.

Beyond recovery time, the club is increasingly worried about whether the Brazilian will return to his previous level and what his long-term competitiveness will be.

Militao will undergo surgery this week. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

After all, he is facing his third surgery in four years and, in the past three seasons, has only played 52 of the 179 matches contested by the team – a 29% participation rate that has raised alarms regarding his availability and ability to meet the physical demands at the club.

Given how things have gone, Militao’s situation has been compared to that of his teammate Ferland Mendy: no doubts about quality, but serious concerns about reliability.

The French full-back, like Militao, has endured repeated injuries during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu. This season alone, he has spent 87 days sidelined across multiple issues and has played only eight matches.

Real Madrid are set to reinforce their defensive line in the summer with a new centre-back. But with David Alaba and Raul Asencio expected to leave and Militao’s injury-prone nature causing worries, it will not come as a surprise to see the club bring in two defenders.