The agonizing qualification of Real Madrid to the quarterfinals of the Champions League against Atlético de Madrid is starting to take its first tolls. The match caused an excessive amount of fatigue at this point in the season, and one of the affected players has been Vinícius, who did not train with the rest of his teammates this morning, raising alarms.

What is happening with Vinícius?

While the club is expected to issue an update on Vinícius' physical condition before Carlo Ancelotti will clarify the situation in the pre-match press conference ahead of the game against Villarreal, it doesn’t seem that the Brazilian winger is suffering from any injury. It seems that the issue could simply be muscle fatigue due to the strain from the match.

It’s worth noting that after missing a penalty that could have avoided extra time and the subsequent penalty shootout, Vinícius played his 38th match of the season with Real Madrid against Atlético de Madrid. Fewer, for example, than Mbappé (42) or Rodrygo (42). However, the explosiveness required by his playing style means he frequently has to repeat high-intensity efforts.

Is Vinícius' presence with Brazil at risk?

In fact, Carlo Ancelotti decided to substitute him during extra time against Atlético de Madrid with just five minutes left in the match, denying him the chance to redeem himself for the missed penalty. He didn’t seem to have any discomfort. However, after the rest day that Real Madrid had yesterday, Vinícius has not been able to recover.

At this moment, Real Madrid's medical staff wants to be patient, and his participation in the upcoming match against Villarreal this weekend is in some doubt… as well as his availability for the upcoming FIFA date with Brazil. If that’s the case, it would be a significant loss for Dorival Jr. as he prepares for two crucial matches in their journey to the 2026 World Cup against Colombia and Argentina.