Real Madrid confirmed on Monday that forward Vinícius Júnior has suffered a left hamstring injury, forcing him to miss Wednesday’s Champions League stage trip to Liverpool.

Sources have told ESPN that Madrid hope the Brazil international will be out for three to four weeks.

Vinícius, 24, played all 90 minutes of his team’s 3-0 win over Leganés. There were no indications from Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti after the match that Vinicius was injured.

The winger took to social media after the news broke, he called the football calendar ‘crazy’.

Vinicius only returned to Madrid on Thursday after starting Brazil’s draw against Venezuela and Uruguay during the international break.

“Mbappé was fresher than Vinicius,” Ancelotti admitted after Sunday’s match. “He did very well with the goal, after a fantastic assist from Vini. Little by little, the two are getting better.”

Vinicius, who swapped positions with Kylian Mbappé in Madrid’s attack on Sunday, will miss several games, including Wednesday’s clash against Liverpool.

Madrid go into Wednesday’s match at Anfield in need of a win, having lost twice in four Champions League games so far.

Los Blancoswho are second in LaLiga, four points behind leaders Barcelona but have a game in hand, also have the FIFA Club World Cup on the agenda next month.

Mbappé, who was assisted by Vinícius for Madrid’s first goal on Sunday, spoke of his growing partnership with the Brazilian forward.

“Vini Jr. and I could read each other really well,” he said.

“I have a great relationship with him and he is a great player. The best players are here and we are ready to win a lot of games and trophies.”

Vinícius has scored twelve goals this season and scored a further eight in eighteen league appearances for Madrid.

Information from ESPN’s Gustavo Hofman and Rodrigo Faez contributed to this report.