An Uncomfortable Stat for Vinícius in the Champions League
Lisbon delivered an image as unusual as it was telling. On a chaotic night for Real Madrid, one goal statistic exposed an uncomfortable reality.
A Defeat That Shook Real Madrid
Real Madrid’s visit to the Estádio da Luz turned into one of the toughest nights of their European season. In a match where a draw would have been enough to stay in the Top 8, Los Blancos fell 4–2 to Benfica, dropped out of the direct qualification spots, and will now have to go through the play-in round.
The scoreline could have been even heavier if not for Thibaut Courtois, once again decisive between the posts. Still, the final moments of the match left an image that quickly spread across Europe and summed up Madrid’s defensive chaos.
Trubin, the Most Unexpected Protagonist
With Benfica needing to secure their place, José Mourinho made a bold call: sending Anatoli Trubin into the opposition box for the final set piece. Real Madrid were defending with two men down after the expulsions of Rodrygo and Raúl Asencio, and the outcome was as unexpected as it was symbolic.
The Ukrainian goalkeeper, standing at 1.99 meters, won the aerial duel and scored the fourth goal, sending Lisbon into delirium. A historic strike that not only sealed the Portuguese side’s victory, but also produced a statistic that was hard for Madrid fans to digest.
Vinícius and a Record That Sparks Debate
With that goal, Trubin equaled Vinícius Jr. in total goals scored in this Champions League campaign. The Brazilian winger has managed just one goal in seven matches during the group stage — a figure far below expectations for a player expected to lead the attack.
That tally also leaves him level with Ousmane Dembélé and Raphinha, a comparison that reinforces the sense that Vinícius’ impact in Europe has been limited this season. His lone goal came against Monaco, in what was his most notable performance of the tournament.
Mbappé, the Contrast That Changes Everything
The contrast inside the locker room is unavoidable. While Vinícius continues to struggle for consistency, Kylian Mbappé closed the group stage with 13 goals, fully taking control of the team’s attacking spotlight and establishing a clear hierarchy.
The Brazilian’s struggles are not an isolated issue. His season has been defined by inconsistency and he has already been the target of criticism at key moments, even putting previous coaches under pressure. Álvaro Arbeloa continues to insist that Vinícius is a key piece of the project, but the Champions League does not wait — and the numbers are starting to weigh heavily. In a competition of the highest level, seeing a rival goalkeeper match your star forward’s goal tally is, at the very least, a moment for serious reflection.
