Vinicius Jr Misses Brazil's October Qualifiers

Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr will miss the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Peru due to a neck injury sustained during Real Madrid's 2-0 win over Villarreal. He becomes the fourth player to be replaced in Brazil's squad, with Fulham's Andreas Pereira called up in his stead. Brazil's coach, Dorival Jr, faces additional challenges as the team is currently fifth in the CONMEBOL standings and aims to secure a top-six finish for World Cup qualification. Real Madrid confirmed that Vinicius suffered a 'cervical injury' and advised against his long-haul travel to Brazil, though he is expected to recover in time for the club’s next La Liga match against Celta Vigo on October 19. Meanwhile, Real Madrid deals with other injury woes, including a long-term knee injury to veteran defender Dani Carvajal. Despite these challenges, Real Madrid remains unbeaten in La Liga this season.