Real Madrid defender Eder Militao is expected to miss the upcoming World Cup following surgery to repair a hamstring injury. The 28-year-old Brazilian underwent an operation on Tuesday to address a rupture of the proximal tendon of the biceps femoris in his left leg. The procedure took place at a clinic in Finland under the supervision of Real Madrid’s medical staff.

The club confirmed the surgery was successful but did not specify the length of Militao’s recovery period. However, reports from Spanish and Brazilian media suggest he will be sidelined for at least five months. Given this timeframe, Militao is likely to be unavailable for Brazil’s national team during the World Cup, which will be held this summer in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Militao sustained the injury last week in a La Liga match against Alaves. This setback adds to a history of significant injuries since the defender joined Real Madrid from Porto in 2019, including two extended absences due to cruciate ligament ruptures.

Brazil, the record five-time World Cup champions, will now face the tournament without one of their key defenders, marking a notable challenge for the team as they prepare for the competition.