Thiago Mendes injured, set to miss Vasco v Fluminense semi | OneFootball

Most likely, Thiago Mendes will miss Vasco's game against Fluminense in the semifinals of the Campeonato Carioca next Sunday (22). The player felt knee pain during activities at the training center and underwent a thorough evaluation by the medical department. Imaging exams ruled out a serious injury to the athlete's joint.

The current clinical condition requires a period of complete rest, making his presence on the field this weekend impossible. The news of his absence was first reported by journalists Rodrigo Silvério and Matheus Giuberti through the channel Podcast Cruzmaltino. Coach Fernando Diniz loses the main pillar of his defensive system and is racing against time to find the ideal substitute for the classic match.

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Planning error in the season

The absence of the midfielder exposes a structural problem in the calendar designed by Vasco's football department. Vasco has played ten times in the current season, pushing its main players to their physical limits in the early months of the year. Thiago Mendes actively participated in eight of these matches, accumulating chronic muscle fatigue in his joints. The number 23 played as a starter in tough matches against Maricá, Flamengo, Boavista, Mirassol, Chapecoense, Botafogo, Bahia, and Volta Redonda.

The insistence on fielding the player caused a physical overload and led to the reported injury. On social media, Vasco fans classify the case as a clear planning error by the coaching staff and management. The coach must urgently seek solutions among the young talents of Base Forte to avoid weakening the midfield on Sunday.

Without Coutinho and without Thiago Mendes – Photo: Thiago Ribeiro/AGIF

Thiago Mendes' performance at Vasco

The athlete joined the Rio club in the July 2025 transfer window with a permanent contract signed until December 2027. He ended his stint with Al-Rayyan in Qatari football and arrived in Rio de Janeiro needing to improve his initial physical condition. The 33-year-old midfielder regained his ideal fitness and became an undisputed starter in the final stretch of the last Campeonato Brasileiro.

Thiago Mendes dictates the pace of play in the central area and organizes Vasco's defensive ball distribution with great passing accuracy. The player has recorded a high number of tackles and interceptions since his debut with the club's jersey. His forced absence from the state classic disrupts the team's defensive structure and could pose problems for Vasco against a strong and in-form rival.

Number 23 has been the standout in the midfield – Photo: Matheus Lima/Vasco

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.