April 28 (UPI) — Brazilian defender Eder Militao underwent surgery on his torn hamstring, Real Madrid announced Tuesday.

Sources told GloboEsporte.com, Spain’s Cadena COPE and reporter Fabrizio Ramano that Militao is expected to miss the 2026 World Cup due to his recovery.

Madrid said Finnish orthopedic surgeon Lasse Lempainen performed the procedure on the ruptured proximal tendon of the biceps femoris in the defender’s left leg, and he will start his recovery “in the coming days.”

“Anyone who knows me knows how much I dedicated myself and worked hard to be in my best physical condition; but unfortunately, I have to take care of my body so that I can play for Real Madrid and the National Team with confidence,” Militao wrote on Instagram.

Militao said “everything is fine” after his surgery. He thanked fans for their support.

The Brazilian defender was hurt in the first half of Madrid’s 2-1 win over Alaves on April 21 in Madrid.

Madrid (23-5-5) sits in second place in La Liga, behind first-place rival Barcelona (28-4-1). Los Blancos will face 13th-place Espanyol (10-14-9) in a La Liga match Sunday in Barcelona.

Brazil will take on Panama in a friendly May 31 in Rio de Janeiro. The Brazilians will play Egypt in another friendly June 6 in Cleveland. They will face Morocco in their World Cup opener June 13 in East Rutherford, N.J.