Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during a Spanish La Liga football match between Almeria and Real Madrid at the Power Horse Stadium in Almeria, Spain, Saturday, August 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Fermin Rodriguez)
August 29, 2023
Vinicius out of Brazil’s World Cup qualifying matches, Raphinha in
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazil winger Vinicius Júnior will not play the two opening matches of World Cup qualifying next month because of a right hamstring injury, the country’s football confederation said Tuesday.
Real Madrid had estimated that the 23-year-old Vinicius, injured in the team’s 1-0 victory at Celta Vigo in the Spanish league, could be sidelined for about a month.
Brazil plays Bolivia on September 8 and Peru four days later.
Raphinha was chosen as his replacement. He last played for Brazil’s national team during the World Cup in Qatar. The 26-year-old winger has five goals in 16 appearances for the national team.
The two matches will mark the start of coach Fernando Diniz in charge of Brazil.
