In recent months, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has been repeatedly pestered about the potential arrival of Kylian Mbappe in the Spanish capital. And on every occasion, the great Italian manager has pivoted, avoided the question, and insisted that he already has the best player in the world at his disposal in Vinicius Jr.
This is, of course, partially manager’s jargon. Ancelotti has dubbed Thibaut Courtois the greatest goalkeeper in the world (potentially true). He has also insisted that he has the remainder of the top five in Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga and Toni Kroos.
Accurate or not, it is a coach’s job to talk up the achievements of his players. While his claims about Rodrygo, Camavinga, Kroos and Valverde might be hyperbolic, Ancelotti could just have a point when it comes to Vinicius.
The Brazilian, for all of his quality, is somehow regarded as a step under the game’s greats – short of the prestige saved for Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. But on the evidence of his last three years of work – including some crucial Champions League performances that have carried this Madrid side to European silverware – he belongs only at the top.
Finding his feet in Madrid
This has hardly been a simple journey for the Brazilian. For a long time, Vinicius was the talented player who couldn’t quite figure it out. Thrown into the Madrid XI perhaps before he was ready, the winger made countless mistakes in key areas, and developed an unfortunate reputation for missing big chances. He drew the ire of not only Madrid fans but also his teammates, with Karim Benzema infamously discouraging Ferland Mendy from passing the ball to him for fear that he was “playing against us.”
It didn’t help that he came into a Madrid side that was undergoing a transition in attacking areas. The midfield trio behind him of Luka Modric, Kroos and Casemiro was long established as the best in the world. However, things were less certain in attacking areas.
Benzema was a bonafide superstar, but Madrid faced uncertainty on the wings. Eden Hazard turned out to be an expensive waste of money, while Gareth Bale’s constant injuries and apparent disinterest left Los Blancos struggling in wide areas. This forced a teenage Vinicius into the starting XI, charged with carrying some of the attacking load for a Madrid side short of their best. His six goals and four assists in La Liga across his first two seasons in the Spanish capital hardly inspired confidence.
The new Galactico
But something changed with the onset of the 2021-22 campaign. Madrid were different that year, with Ancelotti returning to the helm after six seasons away. He stripped down Los Blancos’ playing style, asking his creative players to operate in moments of individual inspiration, rather than follow the sort of choreographed attacking systems that have consumed European football in recent years. Benzema was at the centre of it all, the forward allowed to roam in and out of space, collecting the ball deep, while offering gaps for others.
And although Benzema scored the bulk of the goals – and claimed the Ballon d’Or that season – Vinicius was perhaps the primary beneficiary. No longer constrained to the whites of the left touchline, the Brazilian scampered all over the pitch, encouraged to take on his man or run in behind. His understanding with Benzema – the same player who once disparaged his footballing abilities, turned into something resembling telepathy.
The Brazilian’s numbers made for tidy reading: 17 goals in La Liga, four in the Champions League. He threw in 16 assists in all competitions for good measure. Still just 21, Vinicius had arrived for good.
Constant big goals
Perhaps the biggest moment of that season was his final act. Madrid turned in a typical Champions League performance against Liverpool in May 2022. Los Blancos spent the majority of the contest under immense pressure, and often lent on the brilliance of Courtois – who made 12 saves on the night – to stay in the game. In the end, they had just one clear chance, a well-constructed counter-attack. And Vinicius was the one who finished it.
It was his most important contribution in Madrid white to date, and started a streak of important goals on the biggest of stages. He bagged two against Liverpool the following year at Anfield, one against Manchester City in that year’s semi-final. This season, he’s only been more impactful. Vinicius tore up Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final, scoring a hat-trick in a 4-1 victory. And against Bayern Munich last month, he was even better. Vinicius scored a fine goal to take the lead at the Allianz Arena, and found the net again from the penalty spot to secure a hard-fought 2-2 first leg draw in Munich.
.jpg?resize=640%2C360&ssl=1)
Becoming the main man
All of this has happened in the midst of the growth of Vinicius as a brand. He has always caught the eye with his array of tricks, flicks and cuts. Even when he was missing chances, the Brazilian was must-see TV, if only for the way in which he did it, and the highlight-reel skills that filled the gaps in between. And as his footballing quality has developed, his star power has only grown.
These days, Vinicius is a Galactico in the traditional sense. He makes playing the game look fun, and has a persona that spreads beyond the football pitch. He has an immense social media following, spends time hanging out with Neymar, and has championed countless on-and-off field causes for the game and beyond.
There is also the unfortunate way in which he has been thrust into the spotlight. It is no secret that Spanish football – and the sport in general – has a racism problem. Vinicius, unfortunately, has been at the centre of that debate. So often chided and chanted at by rival fans, the winger has been forced into the conversation as a voice against the vitriol and anti-blackness he has faced his whole career.
There is no good way for a young man, at just 23, to be able to manage that pressure. Vinicius is, after all, an elite footballer – not a full time civil rights activist. Still, he has taken on the systemic hatred in football, and become a crucial voice against the kind of abuse he, and countless other black players have been subject to. Greatness in sport goes beyond what happens on the pitch, and Vinicius – under enforced circumstances or not – has achieved it.
Why isn’t he at the top?
Still, for all of his quality, there doesn’t seem to be a universal appreciation of Vinicius’ talents. In truth, we have entered a strange era of football superstardom. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have seen their time at the top of the game expire, the best of enemies’ time dueling for Ballons d’Or coming to an end.
They were supposed to be followed by Neymar. But a mixture of injuries and the undeniable lack of a signature virtuosic tournament or season has seen the Brazilian fall out of favour with Ballon d’Or voters. Erling Haaland and Mbappe have since taken centre stage, the consensus two best players in the world of Twitter footballheads and media experts alike.
But for some reason, Vinicius can’t quite break into that conversation. Perhaps it’s the fact that Haaland and Mbappe’s talents are much more tangible – and easily quantifiable. They both score goals in spades, and have been the undisputed star players on their respective teams. Haaland spent his first year in England smashing every Premier League record available. Mbappe spent most of his campaign looking generally disinterested and found the net 40 plus times.
Vinicius doesn’t score at that rate, and he doesn’t assist enough to make up for the disparity in goal involvements. In a stats-based world, the most talented pure winger in football really doesn’t get the acknowledgment he deserves.
Ballon d’Or on the way?
That might just change in the coming months. This is a more wide-open Ballon d’Or race than in recent years. Messi likely won his final award in 2023; even a Copa America triumph won’t make up for the anti-MLS sentiment that will likely see voters’ eyes turn to Europe. Haaland and Mbappe figured to be next up. But the Norwegian saw his form tail off for Man City this year, and came under heavy criticism for his lack of on-ball quality throughout the season. Mbappe, too, underwhelmed, failing to collect a coveted Champions League while sleepwalking his way to a Ligue 1 win.
Vinicius, though, has taken a harder route. Although Madrid have made La Liga look easy, the Brazilian has consistently delivered in European competition. And while Bellingham will certainly be in with a shout for the award – especially if he is to lead England to Euro 2024 glory – this would seem to be Vinicius’ best chance yet to claim a Ballon d’Or.
Either way, there will certainly be more opportunities to come. Vinicius is yet to hit his prime, and after penning a long-term contract to stay in the Spanish capital, will likely spend his best years playing in a world-class team that is expected to compete for every top prize. Ancelotti might just have been right in his claim that Vinicius is the best player in the world. The scary thing is that the Brazilian is only getting better.
