Brazilian striker Vinicius Junior, injured in the neck with Real Madrid, will not be able to play the Seleçao’s 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Chile and Peru, just like his Madrid teammate Militao, announced this Sunday, October 6 the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF).
“As informed by the Spanish club, publicly and to the medical department of the Seleçao, (Vinicius) was injured on Saturday during a La Liga match”explained the CBF in a press release. To replace him, coach Dorival Junior called Andreas Pereira, Fulham midfielder.
Five packages for the Seleçao
The absence of Vinicius, the Seleçao’s biggest current star and a serious candidate for the Ballon d’Or, is a real blow for the five-time world champions, who have lost four of their last five matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Especially since Brazil suffered a real massacre, with no less than five players from the initial Dorival Junior list missing due to injury.
A few hours after the announcement of Vinicius’ withdrawal, a new press release from the CBF fell, concerning another Real player, defender Eder Militao, who passed exams in São Paulo revealing “a slight injury to his left thigh which will prevent him from playing Brazil’s two matches”. Fabricio Bruno, Flamengo defender, was called up in his place.
Before the two Madrilenians, goalkeeper Alisson (Liverpool), defender Bremer (Juventus) and full-back Arana (Atlético Mineiro) had given way respectively to Weverton (Palmeiras), Lucas Beraldo (Paris SG) and Alex Telles (Botafogo).
It is therefore with a largely reworked team that Brazil will face Chile on October 10 in Santiago, then Peru on the 15th in Brasilia.
Vinicius was injured a few minutes after scoring on Saturday in Real Madrid’s 2-0 victory against Villarreal. The club mentioned a neck problem but did not specify the duration of his unavailability.
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During this same meeting, the reigning Spanish champion lost another major player, full-back Dani Carvajal, seriously injured in the knee, who should be absent at least until the end of the season.
