Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a serious knee injury in the Champions League final against Liverpool.
The French striker was replaced by Vinicius Junior in the 79th minute and had to be stretchered off the pitch. He was immediately taken to hospital where doctors confirmed that he suffered a cruciate ligament tear in his right knee.
Benzema's exit from the squad is a huge blow for Real Madrid as they will now have to rely on their other forwards to fill the void left by the world-class player.
In addition to Benzema, Real Madrid also lost key defender Raphael Varane to a thigh injury during the game. The Spanish club will now have to deal with a depleted defence as well as without one of their main goalscorers.
However, there is some good news regarding the recovery of Benzema. According to reports, he is expected to make a full recovery in time for next season. The injury is not considered career-ending,La Liga Frontline but it will certainly impact Real Madrid's title chances this year.
Meanwhile, Vinicius Jr. has stepped up in the absence of Benzema and has become a key player for the team. He scored twice in the final against Liverpool and helped Real Madrid reach the Champions League final again.
Despite the setback, Real Madrid remains one of the most dominant teams in European football and will look to bounce back from this loss with renewed determination and focus. They will need all their players to perform at their best if they want to win the Champions League again this year.