Home / Sports / Ancelotti Rests Vinícius Júnior Ahead of Brazil's World Cup Qualifiers
Ancelotti Rests Vinícius Júnior Ahead of Brazil's World Cup Qualifiers
19 Aug
Summary
- Vinícius Júnior, 24, will not be called up for Brazil's September qualifiers
- Rodrygo and Éder Militão expected to return to the national team
- Ancelotti wants to give Vinícius a "rest period" despite his importance

According to reports, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has decided to exclude star winger Vinícius Júnior from Brazil's upcoming World Cup qualifiers in September. The 24-year-old, who has 41 caps for the national team, will not be called up for the matches against Chile and Bolivia.
Ancelotti's decision to rest Vinícius is due to the fact that he is already suspended for Brazil's first match against Chile on September 4 due to yellow card accumulation. The former Real Madrid boss believes a "rest period" would be more "beneficial" for the forward, despite his importance to the Seleção.
Meanwhile, other Real Madrid players are expected to return to the Brazil squad. Rodrygo and Éder Militão, who have been absent from the national team, are likely to be called up for the upcoming fixtures. Neymar may also rejoin the team after an extended break.
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Brazil have already qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, so Ancelotti's decision to give Vinícius a break is seen as a strategic move to manage the player's workload and ensure he is fresh for the tournament. The Seleção's confirmed squad for the September internationals is expected to be announced on August 25.