One Year After the Golden Dream

On October 28, 2024, at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, the spotlight awaited the Brazilian who had set Europe alight with his goals and flair. But Vinícius Junior never showed up. While Rodri lifted the Ballon d’Or, the Real Madrid star wrote his own statement of intent: “Eu farei 10x se for preciso. Eles não estão preparados.” A promise that went viral — and today, a year later, carries a different meaning.

After that disappointment, Vinícius kept smiling, scoring, and enjoying his football, but he also had to live with the noise. In every stadium, the chants and criticism reminded him that the golden prize had slipped away. Even so, the Brazilian once again proved his resilience.

From Glory to Challenge

The 2024 season was a rollercoaster. In the Champions League, he shone against Atalanta, Salzburg, and Manchester City, but faded in key clashes against Atlético and Arsenal. The campaign ended with a UEFA Super Cup title and a Copa del Rey final defeat to Barcelona.

The arrival of Xabi Alonso promised a new chapter, but the setback at the Club World Cup, where Madrid fell in the semifinals, halted that momentum. Since then, Kylian Mbappé has taken center stage, and Vinícius has been adapting to a more collective role—without losing his trademark competitiveness.

Between Reinvention and Hope

His scoring average dropped from 0.6 to 0.4 goals per game, yet in LaLiga, he’s off to his best start since 2021–22, with five goals in ten matches. Despite falling 14 places in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings, his numbers tell a different story: he remains influential, capable of shifting a match’s rhythm with a single play.

The frustration from El Clásico, where he showed his discontent after being substituted, is part of the same fiery nature that has always fueled him. Vinícius isn’t trying to become who he once was — he’s trying to evolve. The talent is still there. The fire, too. Now, all that’s missing is for destiny to align once more with his ambition.