“Vinícius Jr, from Real Madrid, was called off the Brazilian team”after medical examinations were performed this Friday that confirmed “an injury to the posterior muscle of the left thigh,” the CBF said in a statement.
The winger was injured in the ‘Seleção’ 2-1 defeat against Colombia on Thursday in the Caribbean city of Barranquilla.
He left the field in the 27th minute, when Brazil was winning 1-0, showing signs of pain. At the beginning of the game, in the 3rd minute, he assisted attacker Gabriel Martinelli to open the scoring.
In the second half, winger Luis Díaz scored the two goals of the first coffee victory against the five-time world champions in the South American qualifying round.
“I stung and felt pain in the back of my thigh,” the player told reporters at the end of the match.
Vini, 23, said then that he saw it as “a little difficult” to play the classic against Lionel Messi’s National Team, although he assured that he would do “everything possible” to be available.
He had already been absent from the beginning of the World Cup campaign, in which the ‘scratch’ defeated Bolivia (5-1) and Peru (1-0) in September, due to an injury to his right thigh.
His loss is another blow for the Brazilian coach, Fernando Diniz, who has been questioned by the team’s poor play and disappointing results, which suffered two consecutive defeats for the first time in qualifying history.
On the double date in October they tied 1-1 at home with Venezuela and lost 2-0 on the road to Uruguay.
For the duel against the world champions, apart from Vinícius, Diniz will also not have four other undisputed starters: goalkeeper Ederson, full-back Danilo, midfielder and captain Casemiro and attacker Neymar.
No one was called up for the fifth and sixth dates due to injuries.
Forward Gabriel Jesus, who did not travel for the clash against the Colombians, is also a doubt due to physical discomfort.
Brazil, which has never lost a knockout match at home, will receive Messi and company hurt by losing to Marcelo Bielsa’s Celeste (2-0) on Thursday at La Bombonera, in Buenos Aires.
Despite the setback, they are leaders with 12 points in five games, while Canarinha is fifth with seven.
South America has six direct places for the 2026 North American World Cup, while the seventh placed team will play in the play-off against a team from another continent.
Source: Ambito
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