Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr sidelined for several weeks with thigh injury

Real Madrid's forward Vinicius Jr. is set to face an extended period on the sidelines due to a thigh muscle injury sustained during a recent match against Celta Vigo.
Real confirmed the injury, and sources close to the player have indicated to Reuters that he is likely to be unavailable for approximately five to six weeks. As a consequence, he is anticipated to miss Brazil's first two World Cup 2026 qualifiers against Bolivia and Peru in September.
"Following tests carried out on Vini. Jr by the Real Madrid medical services, the player has been diagnosed with an injury to the right biceps femoris muscle. His progress will be monitored," the club said on Monday.
Real Madrid has been dealing with a string of setbacks, and Vinicius Jr.'s recent injury is the latest blow. The club is already contending with the absence of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and defender Eder Militao due to ACL tears, ruling them out for the remainder of the season.

Additionally, new signing Arda Guler faces an extended recovery period after undergoing knee surgery.
Further compounding matters, midfielder Dani Ceballos and fullback Ferland Mendy are in the process of recovering from muscle injuries incurred during the initial weeks of the season. The team is navigating a challenging period of injuries that has affected multiple key players.
(With Reuters inputs)