RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Vinicius Júnior will miss Brazil’s first two World Cup qualifying matches next month because of a right hamstring injury.
Brazil’s soccer federation confirmed the absence Tuesday after media reported that 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.
Raphinha was drafted into the Brazil squad for games against Bolivia on Sept. 8 and Peru four days later.
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 matches will be Fernando Diniz’s first as head coach of Brazil.
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