The 2023/24 season started in the best way for Vinícius Júnior, until he suffered a severe setback in Real Madrid’s victory against Almería. With an injury to the biceps femoris in his right leg, the Real Madrid attacker was left out of the Brazilian squad for the start of the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. Raphinha will be in her place.
Fernando Diniz had dispensed with the Barcelona man in his first call-up, but apparently he had him on his radar in case an unforeseen event occurred.
This way, the 26-year-old winger from FC Barcelona will have the opportunity to show the manager why he deserves to be called up henceforth.
Diniz will combine his function with the position of coach of Fluminense, something striking for such a prestigious team. Either way, in Brazil they hope to get off to a good start on the road to the next World Cup.
Brazil will make its debut in the next Qualifiers on Friday, September 8, when it hosts Bolivia on the first day. Four days later, he will visit Peru on the second date. Beyond the complicated present, Brazil will have the requirement to win both matches.
Other summoned
In addition to Raphinha’s call-up, Diniz called goalkeeper Bento (Athletico Paranaense) and full-back Caio Henrique (Monaco) for the first time for the national team. “Caio Henrique was already on the radar since the World Cup in Qatar and now he is standing out a lot in Monaco”.
Renan Lodi, former Atlético de Madrid player and now at Olympique de Marseille, is another of the novelties on the list. Regarding the injury of Éder Militão, absent due to injury, Diniz stated that the Real Madrid defender is one of “the best in the world” and hopes that he “returns to the pitch as quickly as possible” to also join the process of the current selection.
Other great Brazilian promises do not appear on the squad list, such as strikers Endrick, from Palmeiras and already acquired by Real Madrid, and Vítor Roque, from Athletico Paranaense and also negotiated with Barcelona.
List of called:
goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool-GBR), Ederson (Manchester City-GBR) and Bento (Athletico Paranaense).
defenses: Danilo (Juventus-ITA), Wanderson (Monaco-FRA), Caio Henrique (Monaco-FRA), Renan Lodi (Olympique de Marseille-FRA), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal-GBR), Ibañez (Al-Ahli-KSA), Marquinhos (PSG-FRA) and Nino (Fluminense).
Midfielders: André (Fluminense), Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle-GBR), Casemiro (Manchester United-GBR), Joelinton (Newcastle-GBR) and Raphael Veiga (Palmeiras).
strikers: Neymar (Al-Hilal-KSA), Richarlison (Tottenham-GBR), Rodrygo (Real Madrid-ESP), Raphinha (FC Barcelona-ESP), Matheus Cunha (Wolverhampton-GBR), Antony (Manchester United-GBR) and Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal-GBR).
Keep reading:
Crisis in Real Madrid: Vinícius Jr. will be out for between four and six weeks and joins the Merengue hospital
Vinícius Jr. hopes that his game with Jude Bellingham can have a connection like the one he had with Karim Benzema
“We will fight together”: Thibaut Courtois sends an emotional message to Éder Militao after confirming that both have suffered the same injury
