Toronto FC fans will have to wait a little bit longer to see Victor Vázquez in TFC colours again.

The Spaniard will miss Saturday’s 2023 MLS season opener against D.C. United with a rib injury suffered in TFC’s last pre-season game at the Coachella Valley Invitational in California against LAFC, head coach Bob Bradley confirmed before the club flew south to the U.S. capital.

“(He) hasn’t trained since,” Bradley told reporters Thursday. “We’re hopeful that he’ll return to training soon.”

The 36-year-old returned to the club he helped win their first, and so far only, MLS Cup in 2017. After leaving Toronto in 2019 for the Qatari Stars League, Vázquez returned to MLS to reunite with former TFC gaffer Greg Vanney, spending the last two seasons with the LA Galaxy appearing in 54 regular season games.

Vázquez became available when the Galaxy elected not to exercise his contract option, allowing TFC to select him in Stage 2 of the MLS re-entry draft. He signed a one-year deal with an option for 2024.

The FC Barcelona academy product totalled 18 goals and 28 assists in 65 appearances in all competitions for TFC in 2017 and 2018.

Vazquez has battled chronic knee problems in his career, and TFC fans will remember a nerve issue and sore back also saw his time limited before leaving for Qatar.

Midfielder Themi Antonoglou, a 21-year-old homegrown player who saw action in two league games last season, is also out with a lower body injury and is not available for TFC’s season opener in D.C.

Read our 2023 Toronto FC season preview.