Aurelien Tchouameni, Real Madrid’s midfield engine and a cornerstone of France’s national team, has been ruled out of the upcoming friendly against Paraguay due to a semitendinosus muscle injury in his left thigh.

What happened with Tchouameni

The 23-year-old midfielder was diagnosed with a semitendinosus muscle injury in his left thigh, confirmed by Real Madrid’s medical staff. The semitendinosus is one of the three hamstring muscles, and injuries to it typically require careful management to prevent recurrence.

He suffered a similar hamstring strain back in November 2025 that sidelined him for roughly three weeks. He returned to training in June 2026 after dealing with separate adductor issues, only to hit another setback now.

France’s match against Paraguay is a preparatory friendly. Every missed training session during a pre-tournament camp is a missed opportunity to build chemistry and tactical cohesion with teammates. Tchouameni’s absence leaves a gap in France’s midfield rotation at a moment when depth and fitness matter most.