# Éder Militão
**Éder Militão** (Éder Gabriel Militão, born 1998 in Sertãozinho, Brazil) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a center-back for Real Madrid and the Brazil national team, known for his recovery pace, aerial ability, and aggressive dueling, and for a career repeatedly interrupted by serious knee injuries.[1](https://www.realmadrid.com/es-ES/futbol/primer-equipo-masculino/plantilla/eder-gabriel-militao/) • [2](https://scoutprofiles.org/p/eder_militao)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name, born | Éder Gabriel Militão, 1998, Sertãozinho, Brazil; 1.86 m, 78 kg[1](https://www.realmadrid.com/es-ES/futbol/primer-equipo-masculino/plantilla/eder-gabriel-militao/) |
| Clubs | São Paulo youth 2011–2017, São Paulo 2017–2018, Porto 2018–2019, Real Madrid 2019–[1](https://www.realmadrid.com/es-ES/futbol/primer-equipo-masculino/plantilla/eder-gabriel-militao/) |
| Real Madrid debut | 14 September 2019, Real Madrid 3–2 Levante at the Santiago Bernabéu[1](https://www.realmadrid.com/es-ES/futbol/primer-equipo-masculino/plantilla/eder-gabriel-militao/) |
| Major honors | 2 Champions League, 3 La Liga, 1 Copa del Rey, 3 Spanish Super Cups, 2 Club World Cups, 2 UEFA Super Cups, 1 Copa América[1](https://www.realmadrid.com/es-ES/futbol/primer-equipo-masculino/plantilla/eder-gabriel-militao/) |
| Brazil | 22 senior appearances, 1,693 minutes, 1 goal (2019–2026); played at the 2022 World Cup[3](https://theanalyst.com/players/1640/eder-militao/national/career) |
| Injuries | Left-knee ACL rupture in August 2023 (231 days out); right-knee ACL rupture in November 2024 (255 days out); left biceps femoris tear in April 2026[4](https://as.com/futbol/por-fin-militao-f202609-n/) |
| 2025–26 season | 21 matches, 2 goals, 1 assist, 1,529 minutes[1](https://www.realmadrid.com/es-ES/futbol/primer-equipo-masculino/plantilla/eder-gabriel-militao/) |
## Early career and move to Porto
Militão came through the São Paulo academy, which he joined in 2011, and made his senior appearances for São Paulo in 2017–2018.[1](https://www.realmadrid.com/es-ES/futbol/primer-equipo-masculino/plantilla/eder-gabriel-militao/) In the summer of 2018 he transferred to [FC Porto](https://www.edgepedia.org/fc-porto), which acquired him for approximately €7 million.[5](https://footballbh.net/2019/04/20/eder-militao-porto-liga-nos-tactical-analysis-statistics/) • [17](https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-betclic/fc-porto/detalhe/oficial-real-madrid-anuncia-contratacao-de-militao) In his single Porto season he became a fixture in [Sérgio Conceição](https://www.edgepedia.org/sergio-conceicao)'s team and showed aptitude at both center-back and right-back, the positional versatility that has defined his career.[6](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a82e97464b05fb127236cbf/t/5c755252e4966b9bdf802ecc/1551192731623/Football%2BRadar%2BRoligan%2BJournal%2BIssue%2B4%2B%285%29-compressed.pdf) Analysts of that season noted that he studied attackers' preferred feet early in games and could cover teammates in a variety of situations.[5](https://footballbh.net/2019/04/20/eder-militao-porto-liga-nos-tactical-analysis-statistics/)
## Real Madrid
Real Madrid signed him from Porto in the summer of 2019, and he debuted on 14 September 2019 in a 3–2 league win over Levante at the Santiago Bernabéu.[1](https://www.realmadrid.com/es-ES/futbol/primer-equipo-masculino/plantilla/eder-gabriel-militao/) • [7](https://www.realmadrid.com/pt-PT/noticias/futebol/primeira-equipa/atualidade/milito-completa-24-anos) He established himself as a regular in Madrid's defense, and by his mid-twenties had won three [La Liga](https://www.edgepedia.org/la-liga) titles and two Champions League titles with the club.[1](https://www.realmadrid.com/es-ES/futbol/primer-equipo-masculino/plantilla/eder-gabriel-militao/) • [8](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/person/player/best-centre-backs-in-the-world) In December 2025, FourFourTwo ranked him 13th among the world's center-backs, describing him as very quick on the half turn even after serious ACL injuries and praising his aerial ability.[8](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/person/player/best-centre-backs-in-the-world)
**Playing style.** Scouting profiles describe a powerful, quick defender with elite physical tools and composure on the ball, built to step out, engage early, and intercept passes before strikers can turn.[2](https://scoutprofiles.org/p/eder_militao) • [9](https://striver.football/the-game/eder-militao-lessons-young-defenders) At 1.86 m he is not among the tallest elite center-backs, and analysts point to timing and leap technique rather than height as the basis of his aerial strength.[9](https://striver.football/the-game/eder-militao-lessons-young-defenders) He remains capable of playing right-back when needed, a role he filled for Brazil at times during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, though he considers himself a center-back.[2](https://scoutprofiles.org/p/eder_militao) • [10](https://www.cbf.com.br/selecao-brasileira/noticias/selecao-masculina/brasil-55/de-volta-a-selecao-eder-militao-relembra-lesoes-pensei-em-parar-de-jogar-bola)
## Brazil
Militão's senior national-team career with Brazil ran from 2019 through 2026, totaling 22 appearances, 1,693 minutes, and 1 goal, with his competitive record including the 2022 [FIFA World Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/fifa-world-cup) (4 appearances, 348 minutes), the 2021 and 2024 [Copa América](https://www.edgepedia.org/copa-america) tournaments, and CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers.[3](https://theanalyst.com/players/1640/eder-militao/national/career) He was part of the Brazil squad that won the 2019 Copa América.[1](https://www.realmadrid.com/es-ES/futbol/primer-equipo-masculino/plantilla/eder-gabriel-militao/) In October 2025, back in the squad under coach [Carlo Ancelotti](https://www.edgepedia.org/carlo-ancelotti) after his second ACL recovery, he said he would have to fight for his place because the squad had other strong center-backs, and that Ancelotti required players to be fully fit.[10](https://www.cbf.com.br/selecao-brasileira/noticias/selecao-masculina/brasil-55/de-volta-a-selecao-eder-militao-relembra-lesoes-pensei-em-parar-de-jogar-bola)
## Injuries and comebacks
Injuries have dominated the later phase of his career. He suffered a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the left knee in August 2023, missing 231 days.[4](https://as.com/futbol/por-fin-militao-f202609-n/) On 9 November 2024, during a league match against Osasuna, he tore the ACL of his right knee, with involvement of both menisci; Real Madrid announced surgery on 19 November 2024, performed by Dr. Manuel Leyes, and the absence was estimated at about seven months, or 255 days.[4](https://as.com/futbol/por-fin-militao-f202609-n/) • [11](https://www.realmadrid.com/en-US/news/football/first-team/medical-reports/parte-medico-19-11-2024) • [12](https://as.com/futbol/primera/asi-va-la-recuperacion-de-militao-fe-en-dios-familia-muchas-pesas-y-creer-ante-todo-n/) He said in October 2025 that after the second rupture he had thought about stopping playing football, crediting his wife, his daughter, and teammates for his return.[10](https://www.cbf.com.br/selecao-brasileira/noticias/selecao-masculina/brasil-55/de-volta-a-selecao-eder-militao-relembra-lesoes-pensei-em-parar-de-jogar-bola)
The pattern continued. In April 2026 he was substituted with discomfort during a league match against Alavés, and Real Madrid's medical report put him out for four to five months with an injury to the biceps femoris of the left leg; he was operated on in Finland by Dr. Lasse Lampainen.[13](https://elpais.com/deportes/futbol/2026-04-27/el-drama-fisico-de-eder-militao-otros-cuatro-meses-de-baja.html) • [14](https://cadenaser.com/nacional/2026/04/21/militao-hace-saltar-las-alarmas-en-el-bernabeu-el-central-sustituido-con-molestias-tras-un-mal-gesto-cadena-ser/) • [4](https://as.com/futbol/por-fin-militao-f202609-n/) The injury ruled him out of the 2026 World Cup after a consultation with specialists in Finland confirmed its severity.[15](https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/esportes/futebol/selecao-brasileira/as-vesperas-da-estreia-do-brasil-militao-fala-sobre-ausencia-na-copa/) He returned to full training with the Real Madrid group on 28 September 2026, exactly 153 days after the operation, with a return to match action expected from November.[4](https://as.com/futbol/por-fin-militao-f202609-n/) • [16](https://as.com/futbol/primera/rudiger-o-rudiger-f202610-n/) Counting all absences since 2023, AS calculated 781 days lost, more than two years of his career.[4](https://as.com/futbol/por-fin-militao-f202609-n/)
## References
1. [E. Militão, Web Oficial, Real Madrid C.F.](https://www.realmadrid.com/es-ES/futbol/primer-equipo-masculino/plantilla/eder-gabriel-militao/)
2. [Éder Militão, CB / RB, ScoutProfiles](https://scoutprofiles.org/p/eder_militao)
3. [Éder Militão International Career History, Opta Analyst](https://theanalyst.com/players/1640/eder-militao/national/career)
4. [¡Por fin Militao!, AS](https://as.com/futbol/por-fin-militao-f202609-n/)
5. [Liga NOS 2018/19 Tactical Analysis Statistics: Éder Militão, Porto, Football Benchmark](https://footballbh.net/2019/04/20/eder-militao-porto-liga-nos-tactical-analysis-statistics/)
6. [The Football Radar Generation, Young Players (Football Radar Roligan Journal Issue 4)](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a82e97464b05fb127236cbf/t/5c755252e4966b9bdf802ecc/1551192731623/Football%2BRadar%2BRoligan%2BJournal%2BIssue%2B4%2B%285%29-compressed.pdf)
7. [Militão completa 24 anos, Real Madrid](https://www.realmadrid.com/pt-PT/noticias/futebol/primeira-equipa/atualidade/milito-completa-24-anos)
8. [Ranked! The 20 best centre-backs in the world, FourFourTwo](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/person/player/best-centre-backs-in-the-world)
9. [What Young Defenders Can Learn From Eder Militao's Rise to the Top, Striver](https://striver.football/the-game/eder-militao-lessons-young-defenders)
10. [De volta à Seleção, Éder Militão relembra lesões, Confederação Brasileira de Futebol](https://www.cbf.com.br/selecao-brasileira/noticias/selecao-masculina/brasil-55/de-volta-a-selecao-eder-militao-relembra-lesoes-pensei-em-parar-de-jogar-bola)
11. [Militão medical report, 19/11/2024, Real Madrid](https://www.realmadrid.com/en-US/news/football/first-team/medical-reports/parte-medico-19-11-2024)
12. [Así va la recuperación de Militao, AS](https://as.com/futbol/primera/asi-va-la-recuperacion-de-militao-fe-en-dios-familia-muchas-pesas-y-creer-ante-todo-n/)
13. [El drama físico de Éder Militão: otros cuatro meses de baja, El País](https://elpais.com/deportes/futbol/2026-04-27/el-drama-fisico-de-eder-militao-otros-cuatro-meses-de-baja.html)
14. [Militão hace saltar las alarmas en el Bernabéu, Cadena SER](https://cadenaser.com/nacional/2026/04/21/militao-hace-saltar-las-alarmas-en-el-bernabeu-el-central-sustituido-con-molestias-tras-un-mal-gesto-cadena-ser/)
15. [Às vésperas da estreia do Brasil, Militão fala sobre ausência na Copa, CNN Brasil](https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/esportes/futebol/selecao-brasileira/as-vesperas-da-estreia-do-brasil-militao-fala-sobre-ausencia-na-copa/)
16. [Rüdiger... o Rüdiger, AS](https://as.com/futbol/primera/rudiger-o-rudiger-f202610-n/)
17. [Oficial: Militão confirmado no Real Madrid](https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-betclic/fc-porto/detalhe/oficial-real-madrid-anuncia-contratacao-de-militao)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of South America › Brazilian men's footballers › Contemporary Brazilian footballers › Brazilian footballers born in the 1990s*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license