MADRID — Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior will not feature for the club again this season, having been granted permission to skip the final La Liga match of the campaign against Athletic Club this Saturday at the Santiago Bernabéu.
The decision comes after the 25-year-old Brazilian international experienced physical discomfort during Real Madrid’s victory over Sevilla last weekend. While initial medical assessments indicate the muscular issue is not severe, both the player and the club's board agreed to take no operational risks with the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America just weeks away.
Vinícius was absent from Madrid's training sessions on Wednesday and Thursday for personal reasons and has already departed Spain to return to Brazil. The early release allows him a crucial window for physical rehabilitation before he links up with head coach Carlo Ancelotti and the rest of the Seleção squad for their pre-tournament training camp.
End of a Domestic Campaign
The departure draws a premature close to another highly productive domestic season for the winger, who has served as the focal point of Real Madrid’s frontline. With Los Blancos already mathematically locked into a second-place finish in La Liga behind champions Barcelona, the final match day carries no competitive stakes for the club, making the decision to rest their star forward straightforward.
Vinícius is not the only high-profile absentee for the season finale. Real Madrid will also be without English right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has been ruled out of the weekend squad due to a persistent viral infection.
A Historic Bernabéu Farewell
Despite the missing star power, Saturday's match against Athletic Club is set to be an emotional and historic occasion at the Santiago Bernabéu.
With Alexander-Arnold sidelined, club captain Dani Carvajal is line to start at right-back in what will be his final competitive appearance for the Merengues. The 34-year-old defender is departing the club after an extraordinary 13-season first-team career.
Carvajal leaves Madrid as one of the most decorated players in football history, having accumulated 27 major trophies during his legendary tenure. The Madrid hierarchy expects a sold-out crowd to pay tribute to the veteran fullback as the club officially lowers the curtain on its 2025/2026 campaign.
The Brazilian forward will miss the final La Liga fixture against Athletic Club to prioritize physical recovery ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
