Dani Carvajal was screaming in pain before leaving the pitch in tears after picking up an injury in Real Madrid’s win.
Los Blancos were facing Villarreal in La Liga and claimed a 2-0 win on a night that was set to end on a positive note after a tricky few weeks.
Carvajal was stretchered from the field and was in some distressAFP
But as the clock ticked down, Carvajal went in for a challenge with Yeremy Pino and came away clutching his knee.
Lying on the pitch at the Santiago Bernabeu, the tough-tackling defender was clearly in some discomfort as he cried and covered his face in agony.
Carvajal then tried to get back to his feet, but was unable to, leaving him slumped back on the floor and inconsolable.
According to reports in Spain, he will now undergo tests to assess the nature and severity of the injury.
The 32-year-old has a reputation for being one of Real Madrid‘s fiercest competitors and so the sight of him in such pain on the turf sparked real concern for supporters.
Carvajal is Real Madrid through and through, having progressed through the club’s youth academy to play for the club’s B team.
After failing to make a first team appearance, the defender joined Bayer Leverkusen in 2012, before Real Madrid activated a buyback clause to bring him back to Madrid the following summer.
Since then, the right-back has established himself as a key leader in the Spanish side, making 427 appearances for Los Blancos.
In that time, he has scored 14 goals and offered 65 assists as well as helping Real Madrid to four La Liga titles, two Copa Del Reys and six Champions League crowns.
That included a rare goal in Real Madrid’s glory at Wembley earlier this year when they beat Borussia Dortmund.
Players looked very concerned as Carvajal lay on the pitchGetty
Footage shows exactly why he was in so much painLaLiga TV
The defender was screaming in pain on the pitchZiggo Sport
He was then seen in tears before being stretchered offLaLiga TV
Following Nacho‘s exit from the club over the summer, Carvajal was named as Real Madrid’s vice-captain and was wearing the armband when he suffered the injury following Luka Modric‘s substitution earlier in the game.
The injury marred an otherwise great evening for Real Madrid as they got back to winning ways against Villarreal.
An early goal from Fede Valverde gave Carlo Ancelotti‘s side the lead in the first half, before a Vinicius Jr wonderstrike wrapped up the win.
The win means that Real Madrid go level on points with Barcelona, albeit with the Catalan side yet to play this weekend.