Éder Militão

Éder Militão was ruled out of Brazil's 2026 World Cup squad on 9 May 2026 when Carlo Ancelotti announced a preliminary 55-man list from which the Real Madrid defender was absent due to hamstring surgery. Combined with Rodrygo's ACL and meniscus injuries, Brazil lose two of their most prominent Real Madrid exports from the squad.

Militão has been Real Madrid's first-choice centre-back since 2021, forming a key partnership alongside Antonio Rüdiger at the Bernabéu. A commanding physical presence at 193cm, he won three Champions Leagues and two La Liga titles with Real. He suffered his own ACL injury during a La Liga match in September 2023 — coincidentally the same window as Neymar — and returned to first-team football in 2024-25.

The hamstring surgery ruling him out of the 2026 tournament represents a second major injury setback within three years. At 27 in June 2026, Militão would theoretically be in his prime for the tournament. His absence creates a potential problem for Ancelotti's Brazil, who will need to identify a reliable centre-back partnership.