JA year ago, Vinicius Junior was the symbol of joy at the Santiago Bernabéu. His incredible dribbling, incredible speed and decisive goals have made him one of the candidates for the Ballon d’Or. Today, that smile seems more distant than ever. 2025 has been a tough year. There was an uncomfortable silence, whistles from the fans, and Real Madrid’s future is full of question marks.
If there’s one thing that defines this year, it’s the lack of goals. Vinicius has played in 61 games but has only scored 13 goals. His last two goals against Villarreal on October 4 began a streak of at least 14 games without a goal. January was his best month, scoring three goals (two against Salzburg and one against Celta). Since then, the only times he has scored more than once were in April (Valencia and Arsenal), August (Oviedo and Mallorca) and October (two games for Villarreal).
Vincius Junior can’t believe he scored a magical goal against Real Madrid’s goalkeeper
Between cheers and boos
Comparisons with previous seasons are painful. His 32 goals in 2021-22 and 19 in 2022-23 show the distance between the Brazilian’s best version and his current performances. In other words, his scoring ability has decreased by nearly half in one year. But this drop wasn’t just statistical, it also affected his confidence and influence on the pitch, and there were moments when it seemed like he had lost his ability to terrify opposition defenses.
Whistle on Vinny? Fans have sovereignty and are free to express their opinions.
It’s not just a drop in statistics, it’s a shadow that affects his life.However, the dissatisfaction is not just in the statistics. The Bernabéu, who had frequently praised his dribbling, whistled him during his substitution in his last game against Sevilla, and this episode marked a turning point in the relationship between the player and the public. “The fans have sovereignty and are free to express their opinions,” Xavi said.
Contracts subject to the present
Vinicius responded on social media simply by saying, “…” and changed his profile picture, replacing his Madrid shirt with that of the Brazilian national team. It was a subtle gesture, but one that reflected frustration and a certain emotional distance. To this, we must also add internal pressure. It’s the kind of attitude that will lead to moments of anger after being substituted and a debate about the sport’s maturity. The general impression is that Vinicius has lost the spark that once captivated the Bernabéu. The night of El Clasico was another turning point.
And while the sports crisis deepens, contracts remain a challenge. Vinicius’ contract runs until June 2027, but renewal negotiations have not yet been successful. The club want to ensure that the player does not leave for free as he faces a potentially decisive year in the Spanish capital, with financial disparity and performance questions at stake.
