Real Madrid’s defensive crisis deepened on Sunday night as Éder Militão limped off in the 24th minute of the defeat to Celta Vigo, suffering what club sources describe as a “very concerning” hamstring injury. The Brazilian collapsed after a desperate recovery run and left the pitch unable to put any weight on his right leg — a sight that left the Bernabéu in stunned silence.
A Harrowing Scene in the 20th Minute
The injury occurred when Pablo Durán broke free toward goal, forcing Militão into a full-sprint recovery to prevent a one-on-one
with Courtois. Militão succeeded in reaching the Celta forward (who was offside but waved to play on), but the landing from his challenge left him clutching the back of his thigh immediately.
The defender tried to stand, but struggled to put weight on his leg. He attempted to walk off under his own power, stopping repeatedly due to the pain, until Real Madrid’s medical staff stepped in and supported him off the field. Antonio Rüdiger replaced him moments later.
Another Name on an Already Overcrowded Injury List
If a hamstring tear is confirmed, Militão faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines — a major blow for a Real Madrid squad already dealing with an unprecedented injury pile-up.
He joins a list of six absent defenders, all currently unavailable:
Huijsen, Mendy, Carvajal, Alaba, Alexander-Arnold, and now Militão.
For Xabi Alonso, the situation has become critical. Militão’s return to form had been one of the few recent bright spots for the team. After recovering from a second major knee injury, he had gradually regained rhythm and once again established himself in the starting XI. With Rüdiger only just returning to action and others unavailable, Militão had become the de facto leader of the back line.
