Barcelona and Germany goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen will undergo surgery on a lower back injury.
The 31-year-old last played on 12 November, and has missed three Barcelona games and two for Germany while the injury was managed.
No timescale has been put on his recovery yet, with Barcelona saying he will have surgery this week and a new statement will then be released.
“The break obviously annoys me,” Ter Stegen wrote on Instagram.
“It is the right and safe decision in order to come back in the best conditions for my club Barcelona and national team Germany.”
Ter Stegen has made 17 appearances for Barcelona this season, keeping eight clean sheets.
He had also started all four of Germany’s matches during the current season.
