Militão’s Surgeon Details Severity of Injury and Road to Recovery

MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 21: Eder Militao of Real Madrid CF with the ball during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and Deportivo Alaves at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 21, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Ion Alcoba Beitia/Getty Images) | Getty Images Lasse Lempainen, the surgeon who operated on Real Madrid defender Éder Militão, has shed light on the seriousness of the Brazilian’s injury in an interview with Marca , emphasizing that surgery was the only viable option to preserve his career at the highest level. Lempainen described the gravity of the situation: “There was no other option.

Militao is my patient, and we have a trusting doctor-patient relationship. I can’t reveal anything that hasn’t been previously published. What I can say is that his injury was very serious.

The only option was surgery: with that hamstring injury, he couldn’t continue his professional career at the highest level. The decision was clear. We are very sorry that, as a result, he won’t be able to participate in the World Cup this summer.

” He went on to explain how common hamstring injuries are in football, while highlighting the distinction between typical cases and more severe ones like Militão’s: “Generally speaking, musculoskeletal injuries, and hamstring injuries in particular, are very common in football. Most affect muscle tissue and can be treated without surgery. However, when the injury is severe and the athlete is at a high level, surgery is often necessary.