Real Madrid’s forward Vinicius Junior Aims for Ballon d’Or as Madrid Challenges Lille. Before that, his journey starts in France with a Champions League match against Lille on Wednesday.
With Kylian Mbappe recovering from a thigh injury, Vinicius has taken over as Madrid’s main attacking force. The European champions are undefeated in their last 14 matches, and after a challenging win over Stuttgart, they are aiming for another victory at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
Vinicius’ Performance Last Season
Last season, Vinicius had a slow start but improved significantly in the second half, helping Real Madrid win their 15th European Cup title.
Despite some initial difficulties in playing alongside Mbappe, they seemed to be building a strong partnership before Mbappe got injured. While Mbappe is included in the squad for the Lille match, it’s doubtful he will play, as he was expected to return only after the international break.
“We played without Mbappe last year, so we’re used to it,” said coach Carlo Ancelotti on Saturday. He also expressed confidence in Vinicius winning the Ballon d’Or. “He deserves it for his performance last year, especially in the Champions League,” Ancelotti added.
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Mbappe and Vinicius: Fitting Together
Mbappe joining Real Madrid after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain raised concerns about how he would fit in with Vinicius, as both prefer playing on the left. So far, Ancelotti has kept Vinicius in his favorite position, with Mbappe playing in the center.
Vinicius faced criticism for underwhelming performances at the Copa America and in the World Cup 2026 qualifiers. However, Brazil’s coach Dorival Junior has shown support, saying, “We are calm and can wait for the moment when everything falls into place.“
In August, there were reports that a Saudi Pro League club offered Vinicius a huge deal, but he has not made any decisions about leaving Madrid yet. His contract runs until 2027, and he may reconsider his options next summer.
Vinicius’ Recent Form
Vinicius is currently focused on driving Madrid forward in both European and domestic competitions. After scoring two goals in his first seven matches across all competitions, he came off the bench to help Madrid beat Espanyol 4-1 in La Liga on September 21.
In that match, Vinicius assisted Rodrygo and also set up Lucas Vazquez in the 3-2 win against Alaves. Against Atletico Madrid, Vinicius provided the assist for Eder Militao’s opening goal. Although the match ended 1-1, Real Madrid moved within three points of league leaders Barcelona.
Ancelotti replaced Mbappe with Luka Modric during the Atletico game, using a 4-4-2 system. Against Lille, he might go back to a 4-3-3 formation, with Vinicius’ fellow Brazilian, Endrick, pushing for a starting spot.
Lille Match Update
Mbappe’s younger brother Ethan, who recently joined Lille after leaving PSG, is injured and will miss the match.
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