Jude Bellingham suffers hamstring injury in Real Madrid match
Jude Bellingham suffered what appeared to be a serious hamstring injury just eight minutes into Real Madrid’s La Liga fixture against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday afternoon, reports BritPanorama.
The England midfielder was visibly distraught as he departed the Santiago Bernabeu pitch, covering his face with his shirt while clearly emotional. Bellingham could be heard crying out in agony as his Real Madrid teammates gathered around to offer support following the incident.
Though the 22-year-old managed to walk off the field without requiring a stretcher, his distressed reaction immediately raised concerns about the severity of the problem. He had just pursued a ball towards the touchline on his own when he felt the injury, grabbing the back of his left thigh before dropping to the ground and signalling that he needed to come off.
Medical personnel rushed onto the pitch to assess the situation, with both staff and players indicating a substitution was necessary. Brahim Diaz came on as his replacement. Spanish publication Marca described the injury as appearing “significant” in their initial assessment.
Supporters inside the Bernabeu were left stunned by the distressing scenes unfolding before them. This setback poses a significant worry for England head coach Thomas Tuchel, with the Three Lions’ opening World Cup fixture now just over four months away.
Medical scans will determine the full extent of the damage; however, partial or complete hamstring tears typically require several months of rehabilitation. Initial expectations suggest Bellingham could be sidelined for at least a few months, meaning he faces a battle to recover in time for the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. England’s upcoming friendlies against Uruguay and Japan at Wembley on 27 and 31 March respectively may come too soon for the midfielder.
This situation brings to mind previous tournaments where England’s key players encountered fitness concerns, such as Wayne Rooney’s metatarsal fracture before the 2006 World Cup, which saw him rushed back and lacking match sharpness. Compounding Bellingham’s difficulties, he had already undergone shoulder surgery during the summer that kept him out of the opening four league matches and has been competing with Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers for the number 10 position in Tuchel’s England setup.
Despite the setback, Real Madrid secured a 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano, moving within a single point of league leaders Barcelona. Yet, as the team marches on, Bellingham’s plight serves as a stark reminder of how quickly fate can shift in football, highlighting the fine margins between success and struggle on the pitch.
