Real Madrid defender Eder Militao has torn his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the second time in two seasons he has suffered the same injury.

The Brazil international, 26, was taken off on a stretcher after 30 minutes of the match with Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday after appearing to get his studs caught in the turf.

He was attended to by medical staff before being carried from the field with his shirt covering his face. He was replaced by Raul Asencio, who came on to make his senior debut for the club.

The club later confirmed he had a suffered a complete rupture of the ACL in his right knee as well as sustaining damage to his meniscus. He will undergo surgery in the coming days with the early expectation of a recovery time of a minimum of nine months.

Militao ruptured the ACL in his left knee in the opening game of last season and did not return until March.

“Thank you all for your messages, affection and support!” Militao wrote on social media. “It’s just another fight to win and I already know the way back, giving up is not part of my story.”

Rodrygo (quad) also had to come off earlier in the match while Lucas Vazquez (hip) was withdrawn at half-time with the club waiting on the outcome of further tests over the next 48 hours to determine the exact amount of time both will miss.

Militao and Rodrygo had both been named in Brazil’s squad for November’s international break, but Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli and Flamengo’s Leo Ortiz have been called up in their absence.

“It’s quite rare,” manager Carlo Ancelotti said of the team suffering three injuries in one half.

“The demands of this schedule don’t allow the players to get enough rest. They arrive at the games more tired and the risk of injury is higher… For everyone, not just us”.

Militao becomes the second Madrid player to suffer an ACL injury this season, after Dani Carvajal ruptured his ACL in addition to his external collateral ligament and popliteal tendon in October. Castilla midfielder Cesar Palacios and defender Joan Martinez both sustained ACL injuries this summer, while Thibaut Courtois and David Alaba suffered ACL injuries last season, alongside Militao.

Militao has been Antonio Rudiger’s regular central defensive partner this term and has made 17 appearances in all competitions, including featuring in all 12 of their league matches so far.

He signed from Porto for €50million in 2019 and has gone on to win two Champions Leagues, three La Liga titles, one Club World Cup, two European Super Cups, one Copa del Rey and two Supercopas de Espana.

In Militao’s absence a hat-trick from Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham’s first goal of the season secured a comfortable 4-0 win.

Real Madrid are next in action following the international break away at Leganes on November 24.