Vinicius Junior has responded to criticism of his recent form by posting a brief message after Real Madrid’s 4-1 victory over Leipzig in the Champions League.
The Brazil forward started Wednesday’s league-phase match at Santiago Bernabeu but was replaced by team-mate Yan Diomande in the 70th minute. Diomande made an immediate impact, setting up one goal and scoring another during his 20 minutes on the pitch.
After the game, Vinicius wrote on his official Instagram account: “I live the moment, everything goes on.”
Spanish newspaper Marca interpreted the message as combining resignation with belief, as the Brazilian has faced strong criticism from supporters since the beginning of the current season.
Vinicius’ place in Real Madrid’s starting line-up has also come under scrutiny after he was suspended for four matches by the La Liga association. However, manager Jose Mourinho rejected the criticism and offered a strong defence of the forward’s performance against Leipzig.
“Vini played a great match and showed excellent tactical performance, which benefited both his manager and the team,” said Mourinho.
The Portuguese manager also highlighted Vinicius’ contribution away from scoring, pointing to his work in creating attacks and controlling space on the left side.
“He managed to build attacks from the left wing and controlled the spaces brilliantly,” Mourinho added. “He was close to scoring a wonderful goal, but the goalkeeper saved his powerful shot.”
The comments came after another subdued display by Vinicius, despite Real Madrid securing a convincing win at home. Mourinho’s assessment focused on the Brazil international’s wider influence, including his positioning and tactical discipline, rather than judging his contribution solely by goals.
Vinicius was involved from the start before making way for Diomande, whose decisive contribution helped Real Madrid complete the 4-1 result. The performance nevertheless left the forward under continued scrutiny, with his Instagram message offering a short response to the attention surrounding his form and position in the side.