Soccer-Vinicius Jr sidelined for several weeks with thigh injury

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Real Madrid presents new Brazilian teenager Vinicius Junior - Bernabeu Stadium, Madrid, Spain - July 20, 2018 Brazilian teenager Vinicius Junior, 18, controls the ball during the presentation. REUTERS/Susana Vera/File photo

MADRID (Reuters) - Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. is expected to be sidelined for a number of weeks after the LaLiga club said he had suffered a thigh muscle injury during last Friday's match at Celta Vigo.

Sources close to the player told Reuters that he is expected to be sidelined for five to six weeks and will miss Brazil's first two qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup against Bolivia and Peru in September.