Vinícius Júnior diagnosed with hamstring injury

Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior has been ruled out of Wednesday’s Champions League clash against Liverpool at Anfield after suffering a hamstring injury, the club confirmed on Monday.

“After tests conducted today, our player Vinícius Júnior has been diagnosed by Real Madrid’s medical services with a hamstring injury in his left leg,” the club said in a statement.

Spanish media reports suggest the Brazilian winger will be sidelined for approximately a month, also ruling him out of the team’s trip to face Atalanta on December 10.

Vinícius played a pivotal role in Real Madrid’s 3-0 La Liga victory over Leganés on Sunday, where he contributed an assist for Kylian Mbappé’s opening goal. Despite completing the full match, the injury was detected in subsequent medical examinations.

The 24-year-old has been in exceptional form this season, overshadowing marquee signing Kylian Mbappé. With four goals in as many Champions League appearances and eight goals in 13 La Liga matches, Vinícius also recently finished second in the Ballon d’Or rankings, solidifying his status as one of the world’s top players.

Real Madrid’s Champions League campaign has been underwhelming so far. The defending champions have suffered two losses in four matches, including defeats to Lille (1-0) and AC Milan (3-1), leaving them 18th in the expanded group stage standings.

Liverpool, under the guidance of new manager Arne Slot, are in formidable form. They currently top the Champions League group standings and lead the Premier League, setting the stage for a high-stakes clash at Anfield.