Why Is Vinicius Jr. Not Playing Tonight for Real Madrid vs Athletic Club?

Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Why Is Vinicius Jr. Not Playing Tonight for Real Madrid vs Athletic Club?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Emmanuel Mendez | Last updated May 23, 2026 1:41 PM ET

Real Madrid will play their last game of the season against Athletic Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabeu. The match does not affect their position in the league table as they will finish second this season.

Real Madrid will look to win their last game of the season, which will honor Dani Carvajal and David Alaba, who will leave the club this summer.

The team will have to play against Athletic Bilbao without one of their key players, Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian winger played last week against Sevilla, where he scored the only goal which gave Real Madrid the 1-0 away win.

Vinicius Junior left winger of Real Madrid and Brazil celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Sevilla FC and Real Madrid CF at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on May 17, 2026 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Vinicius Junior is not part of the starting lineup and is not part of the Real Madrid bench. Real Madrid's attack will feature Kylian Mbappe, Gonzalo Garcia, and Franco Mastantuono.

✅ ¡Nuestro XI inicial!
@AthleticClub
@UnicajaBanco pic.twitter.com/bQWUPmecya
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) May 23, 2026

Is Vinicius Junior Injured?

Vinicius Junior is not injured, which rules out that being the reason for his exclusion from the Real Madrid squad tonight against Athletic Bilbao.

ESPN reported earlier this week that Real Madrid agreed to give Vinicius Junior time off so he can go directly to the Brazil National Team training session next week as the World Cup gets closer.

Vinicius Junior finished the 2025/26 La Liga season with 16 goals and five assists after 36 league games for Real Madrid.

Yesterday, Alvaro Arbeloa addressed rumors that Vinicius Junior would miss tonight's match and said the Brazilian winger had a personal matter to attend to.

Arbeloa said, "Vinicius Junior has received permission from the club to travel due to a personal matter; we don't know if he will be able to play tomorrow."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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