Vinícius Júnior has one goal in nine matches and now faces a possible two-match suspension in LaLiga after a straight red for pulling Nathan-Dylan Saliba's hair. Real Madrid were still backing him after the incident, but the problems around him are no longer just about one bad night. He also had a goal ruled out by VAR after being introduced in the 51st minute.

The form around Vinícius

The output has dropped away sharply from his 2023/24 numbers, when he scored 24 goals and added nine assists in 39 games for Real Madrid. This season, the figures are far more modest. He has one league goal in eight La Liga appearances, a recent league rating of 6.88, and just one direct goal contribution across his last five matches.

There is still enough there to explain why some people see mixed performances rather than a complete collapse. His recent league ratings include 7.7 and 7.3, and Real Madrid have taken 18 points from their first eight league games. The team have won three of their last five in La Liga, so his individual spell stands out against results that are still good enough to keep the pressure personal.

Real Madrid's backing and the suspension risk

José Mourinho's line after the incident was straightforward. Speaking to A Bola in comments translated from Portuguese, he said: "We will help him get back to what he was."

That support matters because the disciplinary side could become the bigger problem. A two-match suspension would put El Clásico at Camp Nou on 25 October at risk for him, which would be a serious blow for a player who once looked like a Ballon d'Or contender and has already posted, after the ceremony: "I will do it 10x if necessary. They are not ready."

The noise around Vinícius Júnior now comes from both ends of the pitch. His finishing has fallen away, his temper has cost him, and Real Madrid go into the next phase of the season with a front line they clearly still trust, even if he is making that trust harder to defend. El Clásico on 25 October is the date hanging over it.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →