Two years ago, Vinicius Junior was on top of the world. The Brazilian had established himself as one of, if not the, best players in European football, recording 24 goals and 11 assists in 39 appearances during the 2023/24 season as he led Real Madrid to LaLiga and the Champions League titles.
It seemed natural that he would be awarded the 2024 Ballon d'Or, but in a big surprise, the award ended up going to Manchester City's Rodri.
A heavy blow for Vinicius, which turned out to have deeper consequences than expected.
From absolute protagonist to supporting role
While Rodri has since struggled with injuries and a decline in form, Vinicius has also failed to return to his best form. The loss of the Ballon d'Or, combined with the arrival of Kylian Mbappe at Madrid, has pushed the Brazilian into a more secondary role.
He was no longer the central figure of the project. While Mbappe was conquering Spanish football in 2025, Vinicius recorded 22 goals and 19 assists in 58 appearances in the 2024/25 season, good figures but far from his former dominance. It wasn't long before analysts and commentators, including Martin Tyler, began to wonder: what was happening to Vinicius?
The current season has been even more disappointing. Just 6 goals and 8 assists in 27 games. In fact, the most talked-about moment of the campaign was not a goal or a spectacular action, but his unhappy departure from the field during the victory over Barcelona, when he was substituted. Although Vinicius later apologized for his reaction, the name of coach Xabi Alonso was missing from that statement.
Criticisms and contractual dilemmas
Former Brazil player Carlos Alberto Pintinho was direct in an interview with Football España.
"Vinicius has a lot to learn. I've criticized him before and that caused me problems, but I've always thought that he should focus only on football and leave unnecessary things. He's a great player, but he can't continue with behavior that doesn't bring him anything. I've seen improvement, but there's still a lot to correct," Pintinho said.
Another key factor in Vinicius's decline is his contractual situation. The Brazilian is demanding a salary similar to Mbappe's, while Real Madrid's management are unwilling to meet this demand. With a contract until 2027, Vinicius understands that his future at the Santiago Bernabeu is no longer as secure as it once was.
The spark of the comeback in the final against Barcelona
However, in the Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona, Vinicius gave a performance that reminded us why he was once a serious candidate for the Ballon d'Or.
From the middle of the field, he faced Jules Kounde, quickly passed him, endured double coverage from Kounde and Pedri, and then, without mercy, passed the Frenchman between his legs again to score a spectacular goal with finesse.
With Mbappe out, Vinicius took charge: five shots on goal (four inside the box), four successful dribbles, five ground duels won and another personal record. He became Real Madrid's joint-record holder for contributions in finals, with 16 goals and assists in just 15 finals matches, faster than Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The questions Real Madrid must answer
Vinicius may not be as clinical as Mbappe, but it's clear that he remains a superstar, at least when he wants to be. He is a level above the likes of Rodrygo, Arda Güler, Franco Mastantuono or Brahim Diaz, a player who can take the game on his shoulders and make the difference against the biggest teams in the world.
Now the dilemma for Real Madrid is threefold:
– Will 10/10 appearances be more frequent than average ones?
– Will Vinicius give up the dramas and build harmony within the team?
– Can a financial agreement be found that satisfies both parties?
If the answer is "no", then Vinicius Junior could find himself away from Madrid, perhaps in Saudi Arabia, not for a few months, but for an entire season. /Telegraph/
