Rodrygo sees light at the end of the tunnel after “one of the worst days” of his life

The worst is behind him. The most critical moment of Rodrygo’s injury journey has passed: the tear, the surgery, the first months of rehabilitation. It was a brutal period mentally and physically, filled with pain, sacrifice and uncertainty.

The Real Madrid forward still has a long road ahead before returning, but he is finally beginning to see the light. And when life pushes you into a tunnel so dark that it can sometimes feel endless, that is a huge step forward.

Rodrygo suffered a torn ACL and damage to his lateral meniscus in his right knee on March 2 during a match against Getafe. Four months have passed since then, and his recovery has progressed extremely well. Instead of being closer to a 12-month absence, he is now trending toward the 10-month mark.

For a player facing such a difficult injury, that is like finding water in the desert. A massive boost.

A long road back

Today marks 138 days since Rodrygo first felt the pain.

It happened on a Monday when he planted his foot to accelerate. He felt a click, followed by a growing sense that something was wrong. Rodrygo finished the match, having been on the field for 35 minutes, including 24 minutes while playing with a torn ACL.

But the discomfort afterward, once he returned to the locker room, made it clear there was a serious problem. The diagnosis was confirmed the following day after an MRI: a double injury.

Surgery was required, ending his season and ruling him out for much of the following campaign. It also meant missing the World Cup.

“One of the worst days of my life,” he admitted in an emotional letter after the diagnosis.

Then, quietly, his long recovery began.

Countdown to a return

Rodrygo underwent surgery on March 10, eight days after suffering the injury.

The delay was intentional. In cases like this, doctors often recommend waiting until the initial swelling decreases, making the procedure easier and allowing for a better recovery process. That was the approach taken with Rodrygo.

From that moment, the countdown began.

There was no rush and no pressure. The only priority was clear: when Rodrygo returned, he needed to do so without increasing the risk of another injury, regardless of how long that took.

That remains the plan.

However, caution and optimism can exist at the same time. Four months later, Rodrygo has been working relentlessly, completing long physiotherapy and rehabilitation sessions while rebuilding mobility in his knee.

He has also spent extensive time in the gym to maintain his physical condition.

The work has paid off. Rodrygo has been walking normally for several weeks, allowing him to resume much of his everyday life away from the field.

He has attended promotional events and even traveled to the United States to support Brazil at the World Cup as a spectator and teammate. During that trip, he also met Cristiano Ronaldo.

When will Rodrygo play again for Real Madrid?

Two concepts are crucial in an injury recovery: medical clearance and competitive clearance.

Medical clearance means doctors consider the injury fully healed. Competitive clearance refers to whether a player has regained the physical level needed to compete at the same intensity as teammates and opponents.

Rodrygo is expected to receive medical clearance in January. If that happens, his recovery timeline will be around 10 months, the shortest period initially projected.

The next challenge will be rebuilding match fitness and determining when he can compete in major games during the spring, or even return to the starting lineup.

One step at a time.

Back at Valdebebas

Rodrygo has already returned to Real Madrid’s training complex at Valdebebas.

He was there from the first day of preseason, arriving on Monday, July 13, for his medical checkup alongside the eight first-team players who were not called up for the World Cup: Andriy Lunin, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, Raúl Asencio, Álvaro Carreras, Eduardo Camavinga, Franco Mastantuono and Gonzalo García.

He was also joined by fellow injured players Éder Militão and Ferland Mendy.

After that, it was back inside the facilities for more rehabilitation work and more gym sessions as he continued his personal journey.

But Rodrygo has not limited himself to doing only the minimum required.

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Quite the opposite.

Rodrygo has remained close to the squad and has watched full training sessions on the field, talking with teammates, offering support and encouragement.

He was already seen on the bench toward the end of last season, but now he is even closer to the action, alongside a ball and his teammates.

The departure of Dani Carvajal has also created a leadership opportunity. Federico Valverde is now Real Madrid’s captain, with Vinicius Jr. as second captain, Thibaut Courtois third and Rodrygo fourth.

With the first three unavailable, Rodrygo has taken another step forward.

Optimism returns

Sometimes, simply being present means a lot.

For Rodrygo, his return around the team is symbolic and encouraging. His social media posts tell the same story: countless hours in the gym and a relentless commitment to recovery.

His motivation is high because he knows his rehabilitation is going exactly as hoped.

The hardest moments have passed: the injury, the surgery and the first painful months of recovery.

There is still work to do, but Rodrygo is moving forward.

And after being told he could miss up to 12 months, he is now trending closer to the 10-month timeline.

His recovery is progressing exactly as planned. After a long, dark tunnel, Rodrygo is finally beginning to see the light.

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