diff --git a/backend/src/middleware/authMiddleware.js b/backend/src/middleware/authMiddleware.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4ea304d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/src/middleware/authMiddleware.js
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+const jwt = require('jsonwebtoken');
+const { User } = require('../models/User');
+
+module.exports = async (req, res, next) => {
+  try {
+    // Get token from header
+    const authHeader = req.headers.authorization;
+    
+    if (!authHeader || !authHeader.startsWith('Bearer ')) {
+      return res.status(401).json({ message: 'Authorization token required' });
+    }
+    
+    const token = authHeader.split(' ')[1];
+    
+    // Verify token
+    const decoded = jwt.verify(token, process.env.JWT_SECRET);
+    
+    // Find user
+    const user = await User.findByPk(decoded.id);
+    
+    if (!user) {
+      return res.status(401).json({ message: 'User not found' });
+    }
+    
+    // Attach user to request
+    req.user = user;
+    next();
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('Authentication error:', error);
+    
+    if (error.name === 'JsonWebTokenError') {
+      return res.status(401).json({ message: 'Invalid token' });
+    }
+    
+    if (error.name === 'TokenExpiredError') {
+      return res.status(401).json({ message: 'Token expired' });
+    }
+    
+    res.status(500).json({ message: 'Server error during authentication' });
+  }
+};
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