Happy birthday to Éder Militão! Although the road back to the football field long, there are reasons to celebrate as the Brazilian central defender turns 27 today, January 18. This milestone comes almost three months after successful knee surgery following his second cruciate ligament tear within just 15 months.

It wasn’t long ago that Militão’s anguished cries overshadowed Real Madrid’s 4-0 victory against Osasuna during the 13th LaLiga matchday. The grim diagnosis confirmed the fears of many: a complete tear of the cruciate ligament in his right knee, accompanied by meniscus damage, just a year after suffering a similar injury to his left knee.

Despite these setbacks, Militão’s career has been largely impressive. After transferring from FC Porto to Real Madrid, he quickly earned his place in the starting lineup, overcoming initial uncertainties. His journey includes not only successes on the pitch but also personal milestones, as he has won 13 trophies, with two Champions League titles standing out as highlights.