Vinicius Jr did exactly what’s expected from a decisive Real Madrid player against Monaco, he took control of the game and shut down any debate. Booed at the Santiago Bernabéu days earlier, the No. 7 answered on the field in a 6–1 Champions League rout, with one goal, three assists and a direct role in what Real does best, speeding up play, hurting opponents and killing big games. Before kickoff, Arbeloa had already summed it up by saying that to win, he needed Vinicius. The Brazilian backed that up over 90 minutes.
Vinicius decides, creates and makes history
In the second half, the game took on Vinicius Jr’s face. In the 63rd minute, Arda Güler found the Brazilian at the edge of the box. He beat two defenders and fired into the top corner, no chance for the goalkeeper. It was Real’s fifth goal and Vinicius’ 30th in the Champions League, a mark that puts him level with Kaká among the top Brazilian scorers in the competition’s history, behind only Neymar.
The assists mattered too. With his decisive passes in the blowout, Vinicius reached 30 Champions League assists for Real Madrid and became the club’s all-time leading provider in the tournament, moving past Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, both with 27.
From boos to an answer on the field
After the match, Vinicius highlighted the team’s approach from the start and how Real managed to impose its game. “We were very focused from the beginning, moving the ball from side to side. Whenever I’m able to get on the ball, those are my best moments.”
When he addressed the recent boos at the Bernabéu and the constant pressure, his tone was direct and without drama. “The last few days have been very difficult for all my teammates and, especially, for me, because of the boos and everything that’s been said about me. I’m always in the spotlight and I don’t want to be there for things off the field, I want to be there for what I do on it and for everything I’ve done for this club that has given me so much.” Vinicius also acknowledged the weight of the shirt and the daily demands. “The expectations are very high and I have to deliver every day. I won’t always be at my best technically, but I try to give everything I have for this club that has given me so much.”
Vinicius Jr didn’t leave this game as just the standout in a lopsided win. He walked away with numbers that carry real weight in the history of Real Madrid and the Champions League. Days after being booed at the Bernabéu, he responded in the only way that truly matters there, by playing, deciding games and putting his name next to marks that last.