Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior tore a leg muscle while playing with Brazil’s national team in South American World Cup qualifying, the Spanish club said. Vinicius joins a long list of Madrid players affected by injuries currently. The Real Madrid forward helped tee up Gabriel Martinelli for a fourth-minute opener in his latest international outing, but had to be replaced before the half-hour mark was reached. Vinicius hobbled from the field as Joao Pedro took his place, in Brazil’s 2-1 loss at Colombia on Friday. Vinícius “has been diagnosed with a tear in his left femoral bicep which is affecting the tendon in his hamstring. His recovery will be monitored,” the club said. Vinicius suffered from a hamstring injury earlier this season, going down in pain against Celta Vigo on 25th August. He had to miss an entire month’s worth of games, and eventually only returned against Las Palmas in late September. Madrid are already seriously hamstrung with their lack of offensive depth this season, and cannot afford to lose Vinicius ahead of a key part of the campaign. Luckily for them, they have already qualified for the Champions League round of 16. Madrid has already qualified for the knockout stage of the Champions League. It is two points behind leader Girona after 13 rounds in the Spanish league. The 23-year-old Vinícius has scored six goals for Madrid this season, including three in the team’s last two matches. Vinicius is not the only Madrid player who has endured a serious injury during this international break. Eduardo Camavinga ruptured his external lateral ligament in his right knee while training with France, and will also return to Madrid. Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham is also suffering from an injury, while Arda Guler has already relapsed and is yet to make his debut for the record UCL winners. Madrid are also without both their first-choice goalkeepers right now in Thibaut Courtois and Kepa Arrizabalaga, while Aurelien Tchouameni is expected to be out until January.
