For Vinícius Júnior, life at Real Madrid has been far from comfortable recently. His form has faced criticism, his future at the club has been widely debated, and he has even been met with boos from Santiago Bernabéu fans during some matches.
His performances in the first two group stage games of this summer's Club World Cup did little to quell the noise, but the Brazilian forward responded with a goal and an assist in the final group match—a 3-0 win over Red Bull Salzburg—that helped the team top the group.
After scoring and assisting in the first half, his smile while receiving the Man of the Match trophy summed up his performance. "He had a great game, but I'm not just talking about his goal and assist," Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso said at the post-match press conference. “I appreciate the risks and sacrifices he makes in defense.”
“I have to play in a central position, which I've always loved because it gets me closer to the goal, allowing me to score more and provide more assists,”
Vinícius stated after the game. “Carlo Ancelotti used me in this role when we won the Champions League, and now it's a bit challenging because it takes time to adjust.”
This goal marked Vinícius' 106th for Real Madrid since 2018, matching Gareth Bale's tally across nine seasons in white. It means he has scored 22 goals and provided 19 assists in 55 matches this season.
After weathering his toughest months, he has rediscovered his form. Many in Madrid were shocked that he finished second to Rodri in last year's Ballon d'Or, trailing the Spaniard despite his contributions.
On contract negotiations, Vinícius said: "My deal has two years left. I've always said I want to stay at Real Madrid and hope to play here for many more years." His entourage continues to deny reports of a signed extension. Talks are ongoing, with the forward demanding an annual salary of around €30 million, including a "pioneering renewal bonus"—a clause never before seen in Real Madrid's contracts.
