Vinícius Júnior has shown he is currently carrying Real Madrid CF on his back, with no one coming close in recent matches.
Before the last three games, Kylian Mbappé had been powering the team. However, since suffering a knee injury that caused him to miss Madrid’s recent matches, Vinícius Jr has stepped up and taken full responsibility in leading the side.
In their 2:1 win over SL Benfica in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League playoff second leg, he once again delivered and repeated the same controversial celebration he performed in the first-leg victory.
Softfootball understands that Vinícius Junior has the capacity to become one of the best players in the world. Many fans, pundits and analysts believe he is the type of player who thrives when trusted and loved by his manager, enjoying the responsibility of being counted on in decisive moments.
During the short tenure of Xabi Alonso, who left Madrid seven months after joining by mutual consent, there were concerns about the compatibility of Mbappé playing alongside Vinícius Jr. However, the new manager Álvaro Arbeloa has proven otherwise, recognising the characteristics of Vinícius Jr and allowing him to flourish as the team’s leader.
