Manchester City fans may have intended to unsettle Vinicius Junior with their pre-match taunts, but instead, they fueled one of his best performances as Real Madrid secured a dramatic 3-2 victory in the first leg of their Champions League clash.
Before the game, a section of City supporters unveiled a banner featuring midfielder Rodri with the Ballon d’Or trophy, alongside the message “Stop crying your heart out.”
The dig appeared aimed at Vinicius, who had previously suggested that his activism against racism contributed to him missing out on the award last year.
Rather than letting the mockery get to him, the Brazilian winger used it as extra motivation, playing a crucial role in Madrid’s comeback.
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“Yes, I saw it. At times the opposing fans do things which spur me on to put in a great performance. I did that again here tonight and we managed to win the game,” Vinicius said after the match.
The 24-year-old helped set up Jude Bellingham’s late winner, giving Madrid the upper hand ahead of the return leg. His performance was another statement in a season where he has continued to prove his world-class quality.
Real Madrid had previously skipped last year’s Ballon d’Or ceremony, expecting Vinicius to be overlooked.
Many, including Cristiano Ronaldo and several teammates, believed he deserved the honor. However, he later won the FIFA Player of the Year 2024 award in December.
Now, with the second leg looming, Vinicius is focused on finishing the job in front of the home crowd.
“We have to get back to Madrid and our fans will make it special,” he said. “The return leg will be tough, but we have to keep this up and defend like we did tonight to ensure another magical night in front of our fans.”
Real Madrid will host Manchester City next Wednesday, looking to seal their place in the next round.
