Just a year ago, Vinicius Jr. was the symbol of joy at the Santiago Bernabeu. His dazzling dribbling, breakneck speed and decisive goals put him among the candidates for the Ballon d’Or. Today, that smile seems further away than ever. 2025 has become a tough year, with uncomfortable silences, whistles from the fans and a future at Real Madrid full of question marks.
If anything defines this year, it is the lack of goals. Vinicius has played 61 games, but has only scored 13 goals. His last brace against Villarreal on October 4 marked the beginning of a run of at least 14 consecutive games without scoring. January was his best month with three goals (two against Salzburg and one against Celta); since then, only in April (Valencia and Arsenal), August (Oviedo and Mallorca) and October (Villarreal brace) did he manage to score more than once.
Between cheers and boos
The comparison with previous seasons is painful: 32 goals in 2021-22 and 19 in 2022-23 show the distance between the Brazilian’s best version and his current performance. In other words, in one year his goalscoring ability has been reduced by almost half. But the decline is not only statistical: it has also affected his confidence and his influence on the pitch, with moments when he seemed to lose the spark that made opposing defenses tremble.
Whistles for Vini? The fans are sovereign and free to express their opinion
It’s not just a drop in statistics, but a shadow that affects his However, the discontent is not only in the statistics. The Bernabeu, which so often celebrated his dribbling, whistled him in the last game against Sevilla when he was substituted, an episode that marks a turning point in the relationship between player and public. “The fans are sovereign and free to express their opinion,” said Xabi.
A contract that conditions the present
Vinicius responded on social media with a simple “…” and changed his profile picture, leaving the Madrid shirt for the Brazilian national team shirt. It was a subtle gesture, but one that reflects frustration and a certain emotional distance. To this must be added the internal pressure: moments of anger after being substituted and attitudes that generate debate about his sporting maturity. The general feeling is that Vinicius has lost that spark that used to dazzle the Bernabeu. The night of El Clasico was also another turning point.
And while the sporting crisis deepens, the contract remains a sticking point. Vinicius has a contract until June 2027, but the negotiation to renew has still not been successful. With economic differences on the table and questionable performance, the club wants to ensure that he does not leave for free, while the player faces a year that could mark his future in the Spanish capital.
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