Real Madrid confirmed this Tuesday (28) that Brazilian defender Éder Militão had to undergo “successful” surgery to repair a rupture in the proximal tendon of the biceps femoris muscle in his left leg.
On Saturday (25), information was already circulating — unofficial — that the player would undergo surgery, without being able to recover in time to compete in the World Cup.
The Brazilian team debuts in the tournament in North America on June 13, against Morocco.
A trusted name for Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti, with whom he had previously worked at Real Madrid, Militão was selected at right-back in a friendly against Senegal, in November, amid a lack of options for the position.
Danilo, from Flamengo, and Wesley, who stood out playing on the wing for the red and black, but has played on the left wing at Roma, are alternatives considered by the technical committee for the position.
“The operation was carried out by Dr. Lasse Lempainen under the supervision of Real Madrid’s medical services. Militão will begin his rehabilitation in the coming days,” Real said in a statement.
Defender Éder Militão was injured during the 1-0 victory over Alavés on the 21st, in the Spanish Championship
This is the Brazilian defender’s third muscle injury of the season. The first occurred in November, when he missed two games.
The second occurred in December, when he also suffered a rupture of the biceps femoris in his left leg, which affected a tendon. The Brazilian was sidelined for almost four months.
According to information from Spanish radio Cope, tests carried out by the club showed that a scar left by this second intervention ended up reopening, forcing new surgery on the athlete. The estimated recovery time is again around four months.
“The biceps femoris muscle injury is an injury to the posterior region of the thigh. It is one of the most common injuries in football. What varies greatly is the severity of the injury. The muscle can present partial injuries, in which only part of the fibers are affected, to injuries in which there is complete rupture of the muscle fibers at a certain point”, said Adriano Marques de Almeida, president of SBRATE (Brazilian Society of Arthroscopy and Sports Traumatology.
Muscle injuries are evaluated according to their extent —in relation to the length of the muscle fiber—, on a scale that starts at “grade one”, of lesser severity, with only muscle stretching, going through “grade two”, when there is rupture of 50% of the fibers, and “grade three”, with 50% to almost 100% rupture. In “degree four”, there is total rupture of the muscle fiber. Real did not say the extent of Militão’s injury.
On the 22nd, specialized website The Athletic published that Chelsea striker Estêvão suffered a grade four muscle injury during a clash with Manchester United, with his participation in the World Cup practically ruled out.
“After this Militão injury, appropriate treatment is necessary to allow the muscle to heal, avoiding the formation of fibrosis, allowing the recovery of bone mobility and muscle strength, without pain or any symptoms”, noted Almeida.
Striker Rodrygo, also from Real Madrid, is already a certain absence from the Brazilian team at the World Cup, after suffering a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, at the beginning of March. The estimated time for recovery is at least eight months.
