Jude Bellingham suffered what appeared to be a serious hamstring injury just eight minutes into Real Madrid's La Liga fixture against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday afternoon.
The England midfielder was visibly distraught as he departed the Santiago Bernabeu pitch, covering his face with his shirt whilst clearly emotional.
Bellingham could be heard crying out in agony as Real Madrid teammates gathered around to offer support following the incident.
The 22-year-old managed to walk off the field without requiring a stretcher, though his distressed reaction immediately sparked fears about the severity of the problem.
Jude Bellingham suffered a serious hamstring injury just minutes into Real Madrid's match
|REUTERS
Brahim Diaz came on as his replacement.
The incident occurred whilst Bellingham was pursuing a ball towards the touchline on his own, with no other players involved in the moment he felt the problem.
He immediately grabbed the back of his left thigh before dropping to the ground, quickly signalling that he needed to come off.
Medical personnel rushed onto the pitch to assess the situation, with both staff and players indicating a substitution was necessary.
Spanish publication Marca described the injury as appearing "significant" in their initial assessment.
There was major concern over Jude Bellingham after his injury
|REUTERS
Supporters inside the Bernabeu were reportedly left stunned by the distressing scenes unfolding before them.
This setback presents a significant worry for England head coach Thomas Tuchel, with the Three Lions' opening World Cup fixture now just over four months away.
Medical scans will determine the full extent of the damage, though partial or complete hamstring tears typically require several months of rehabilitation.
Initial expectations suggest Bellingham could be sidelined for at least a few months, meaning he faces a battle to recover in time for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
England's upcoming friendlies against Uruguay and Japan at Wembley on 27 and 31 March respectively may come too soon for the midfielder.
Jude Bellingham has an uneasy relationship with England boss Thomas Tuchel | PAThe situation evokes memories of previous tournaments when England's key players have struggled with fitness concerns, most notably Wayne Rooney's metatarsal fracture before the 2006 World Cup, which saw him rushed back but lacking match sharpness.
Bellingham has experienced a difficult campaign, having undergone shoulder surgery during the summer that kept him out of the opening four league matches.
He has also been competing with Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers for the number 10 position in Tuchel's England setup.
Despite the setback, Real Madrid secured a 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano, moving within a single point of league leaders Barcelona.