Jude Bellingham: Real Madrid star leaves pitch in tears after hamstring injury casts doubts on 2026 World Cup

Jude Bellingham left the pitch in tears as Real Madrid defeated Rayo Vallecano 2-1 in LaLiga.

The incident occurred as Bellingham chased a ball down the wing unopposed. He suddenly pulled up, clutching his hamstring before collapsing to the ground in clear distress.

Although he managed to walk off the field without assistance, the emotional reaction from the young star suggested a significant setback.

Bellingham is now set for immediate medical tests to determine the full extent of the damage. While an official recovery timeline is pending, he is expected to be sidelined for several weeks.

The injury puts Bellingham's participation in a series of vital matches in doubt. He is almost certain to miss upcoming La Liga clashes with Valencia and Real Sociedad. More critically, his availability for Real Madrid's Champions League knockout tie against Benfica is now under serious threat, with the first leg scheduled for February 17.

Depending on the severity of the tear, even the return leg a week later could be out of reach. This places a significant question mark over his involvement in the final international break in late March, a key period for World Cup preparations.

This latest injury complicates what has already been a challenging period for Bellingham on the international stage under manager Thomas Tuchel. He was sidelined with a shoulder injury in September and was left out of the October squad due to fitness concerns.

Despite returning to the England fold in November, he was not a starter in the team's most important match.

His relationship with Tuchel has also been under scrutiny, particularly after the manager described his attitude as "repulsive"—a comment he later clarified was a poor choice of words in a second language.

Should this injury prevent Bellingham from joining the England camp in March, he could face an uphill battle to secure his place in the squad for the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.