MADRID (AP) — Brazil international Rodrygo will miss the rest of Real Madrid's season and the World Cup because of a torn ACL and meniscus in his right knee.
The 25-year-old winger was injured in Madrid's 1-0 loss to Getafe on Monday, when he came on as a substitute after having sat out nearly a month due to tendinitis.
Real Madrid confirmed the diagnosis Tuesday. Rodrygo called it “one of the worst days of my life.”
"I’ve always feared this injury. Maybe life has been a little cruel to me lately. I don’t know if I deserve this, but what can I complain about? How many wonderful things I’ve already experienced, which I also didn’t deserve,” he said on Instagram.
“I’m out for the rest of the season with my club and out of the World Cup with my country, a dream that everyone knows how much it means to me. And all I can do is be strong as always, that’s nothing new," Rodrygo added.
Neither Madrid nor Brazil's soccer federation mentioned surgery or a timetable for Rodrygo's return. The federation wished him a “speedy recovery.”
Rodrygo played in all five of Brazil’s games at the 2022 World Cup, where his team lost on penalties in the quarterfinals to Croatia. Rodrygo's spot kick was saved in the shootout.
He was not in Brazil's squad for any of the last four World Cup qualifying games last year, but coach Carlo Ancelotti did use Rodrygo in each of the four friendlies in October and November.
Neymar, who tore his ACL and meniscus in 2023, said he was saddened by news of Rodrygo's injury. It brought back memories of “the suffering, the anguish and the fear of having this injury,” he wrote on his social media channels.
“My number 10, my boy, my heir (as I call you), I only ask you for one thing. Take care of your head. Now is the time to put everyone you love around you," the 34-year-old Neymar wrote. “As you told me, you didn’t deserve to go through this now. But who are we to doubt God’s plans. I am sure you will be back to your best. I love you and as much as you gave me support, I will be here for you.”
Rodrygo played 27 games for Madrid in all competitions this season, scoring three goals and adding six assists.
Madrid is still missing injured star striker Kylian Mbappé.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Getafe's Boselli fights for the ball against Real Madrid's Rodrygo during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Getafe in Madrid, Spain, Monday, March 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 4, 2026--
With combined business spend on loyalty, employee recognition, and channel incentives projected to exceed $80 billion by the 2030s, the incentive industry is entering a period of rapid scale and strategic pressure.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260422729016/en/
In response, the Incentive Marketing Association (IMA) launched a new suite of resources designed to help incentive professionals navigate an environment that’s becoming more specialized, fragmented, and central to business performance.
“It’s not just more money coming in—it’s more complexity,” said Vince Chiofolo, President of the Incentive & Engagement Solution Providers (IESP). “Buyers are demanding programs that evolve fast, integrate deeply, and feel personal at scale. These new tools were built for that.”
IMA’s Suite of Tools Includes:
New Industry Report — Inside the Incentive Buyer’s Mind
Drawn from insights of 50+ program owners, the report from Inside the Incentive Buyer’s Mind breaks down the changing expectations of today’s buyers. This report will help:
EngageIQ — The First AI Assistant Built for Incentive Education
Now live via ChatGPT integration, EngageIQ answers real-time questions about segmentation, program design, reward models, and strategy logic.
EngageIQ brings structure to the conversations around recognition, loyalty, and incentives, and puts credible, focused knowledge within reach.
Motivation Insiders Podcast Relaunch
A sharper, more frequent series focused on the voices moving the industry forward—from practitioners and platform leaders to marketers and incentive buyers. Each episode on the Motivation Insiders Podcast brings together experts to discuss different aspects of behavioral science and how you can use them to improve your incentive and recognition programs.
Global Insights on Incentive & Recognition
The IMA Global Incentives & Recognition Report consolidates insights from executives and companies for industry professionals seeking a better understanding of the global landscape of incentive and recognition.
The report offers a focused lens, providing structure, depth and actionable insights across regions and roles. This forms a structured and scalable knowledge base—designed to deliver both global comparability and local relevance.
Recognition Professionals Certification
Built on Recognition Professionals International’s (RPI) 7 Best Practice Standards® and supported by decades of research, the CRP designation establishes you as a leader in the art and science of employee recognition.
Access all the tools at www.incentivemarketing.org.
Incentive Market Set to Surpass $80B by 2030s — IMA Launches Tools to Help the Industry Keep Pace
