Flamengo's star defender, Éder Militão, has been sidelined with an injury that has left the club in a difficult situation.

Militão is one of Flamengo's most important players, having made over 250 appearances for the club since his debut in 2011. He is also a key member of Brazil's national team, having played in two World Cups and several international tournaments.

However, on Tuesday, Flamengo announced that Militão had sustained an ankle injury during training and would be out for an extended period of time. The severity of the injury is not yet known, but it is likely to keep him out of action for several weeks if not months.

The injury comes at a critical time for Flamengo, who are currently in the middle of a tough season. They have struggled to find form in recent weeks, losing four of their last six games and falling down the table. With Militão out, the club will need to find someone to fill his role and help them turn things around.

Despite the setback, Flamengo manager Nuno Espírito Santo remains optimistic about the future. "Éder is a player we love and respect," he said. "We'll do everything possible to get him back as soon as possible."

For now, Flamengo will have to rely on other defenders to step up and fill Militão's shoes. But with the club's top talent injured, it will be a challenging task for Espírito Santo to lead them to victory.

• Latest
• Flamengo
• Injury
• der
• Milit