Flamengo has been hit with another injury blow as their star defender, Éder Militão, is set to miss the rest of the season due to a cruciate ligament tear in his right knee.
The Brazilian defender, who joined Flamengo from Inter Milan last summer for €22 million, had made an immediate impact at the club and was one of the standout performers during the team's Copa Libertadores campaign earlier this year.
However, the news of his injury will be a major setback for Flamengo, who were already struggling without key players such as Willian Jose and Renato Sanches.
Militão's absence will be felt particularly keenly given that he has been a regular starter in the backline and has provided stability both defensively and offensively.
He will now undergo surgery and is expected to make a full recovery in time for next season, although it remains to be seen whether he will be able to return to the starting line-up or if he may require further rehabilitation.
In the meantime, Flamengo will need to find ways to cope without their key defender while also working on improving their defensive performance going forward. It will be a tough task, but they must remain focused and determined to get back to winning ways.