Jude Bellingham’s long injury layoff begins: here’s every Real Madrid game he’ll miss

After 20 grueling months of playing through pain, Jude Bellingham is finally set to go under the knife. The 22-year-old Real Madrid and England star will have surgery in London on Wednesday to repair a dislocated left shoulder—a nagging injury he first suffered back in November 2023 during a LaLiga match against Rayo Vallecano. Recovery is expected to sideline him for two to three months, potentially causing him to miss up to 10 matches: the first eight games of the LaLiga season and Madrid’s opening two Champions League fixtures.

Real Madrid games Jude Bellingham could miss

Bellingham has been putting off the procedure for nearly two years in order to stay available for both club and country. The packed schedule left little room for rest—last summer, he helped lead England to the Euro final, and this year he played a key role in Madrid’s run to the Club World Cup semifinals.

Bellingham: “I just want to feel free again”

But now, the wait is over. “I’ve had this surgery planned for after the Club World Cup,” Bellingham said after Madrid’s win over Pachuca, where he was named MVP. “I’ve been waiting a long time and I’m really starting to lose patience. The doctors and physios have been incredible, helping me get through every game. But I just want to feel free again.”

The injury dates back to November 5, 2023. Just minutes into a home match at the Bernabéu, Bellingham went to chest the ball to a teammate, landed awkwardly, and dislocated his left shoulder. He missed a handful of games for Madrid and England, but returned to action wearing a bulky protective brace—and kept playing as if nothing had happened.

Over 100 matches carrying an injury

Since then, he’s played over 100 matches with a compromised shoulder: 86 for Real Madrid and 14 for the national team. Now, he’s finally hitting pause to get it fixed—hoping to come back fully fit and pain-free for the business end of the season.

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