Vinicius Jr. steals headlines at Vallecas, trading barbs with Rayo fans and players while urging Madrid to play short, sparking tense duels with Unai, Ratiu and Álvaro.
Another away match for Real Madrid brought with it yet another chapter in the ongoing saga surrounding Vinicius Junior and the reception he receives in rival stadiums.
Vallecas, one of LaLiga’s most hostile and compact grounds, once again became a stage where the Brazilian forward found himself not only battling defenders but also engaging almost continuously with the crowd and several Rayo Vallecano players. The cameras of El Día Después captured a tense, theatrical, and at times surreal ninety minutes, illustrating the complex dynamic between Vinicius, rival supporters, and his opponents.
From the opening minutes, it was evident that Vinicius was not comfortable with the flow of the game. He repeatedly urged Real Madrid’s defenders to avoid long balls and focus instead on controlled buildup play. His frustration was directed in particular toward Huijsen, to whom he complained openly: “We play long, you always look for the long ball. Who wants that?” It was a revealing moment, showing not only his dissatisfaction with Madrid’s approach but also the increasingly vocal leadership role he assumes on the pitch.
The tension escalated when he approached the byline near the area populated by Rayo’s ultras, the Bukaneros. Their insults were immediate and loud. “You’re terrible!” they shouted, attempting to provoke him. Instead of reacting angrily, Vinicius smiled and tossed the comment back with ironic confidence: “Not terrible, you know that.” Throughout the match, he repeated that response several times, turning the hostility into a performance of self-assurance.
Yet even his attempts to remain lighthearted did not stop others from intervening. Noticing the heated exchanges between Vinicius and the ultras, Rayo midfielder Unai López attempted to calm things down. While marking him tightly, he advised: “Leave the crowd alone, Vini, don’t say anything to them.” Vinicius, still smiling, insisted there was no problem: “No, no, we’re all good here.” It was a revealing moment of contrast where one player sought de-escalation, Vinicius seemed almost to invite the tension, as though it fueled his competitive instincts.
The match took on yet another layer when Vallecas broke into one of the stadium’s most recognizable chants directed at the Brazilian: “Beach ball, Vinicius beach ball.” It is a taunt he now hears in almost every away ground, typically in reference to perceived theatrics or showboating. When the chants came from the crowd, Vinicius managed a faint smile, acknowledging the familiar hostility. But things changed when Ratiu, Rayo’s fullback, got right up to Vinicius’ face and mimicked the chant mockingly. The Brazilian’s response was pointed and direct: “You don’t even know where I am,” he said, adding a sharper and more personal jab: “He’s either going to sub you or play you as a forward, because as a fullback it’s impossible.”
The confrontations continued into halftime. As the players walked toward the tunnel, Vinicius approached Álvaro, attempting to place an arm around his shoulder, perhaps to lighten the mood or continue the verbal sparring. Álvaro pulled away and hit back with a quick insult: “The beach one,” once again referencing the chant used against Vinicius. This time the Real Madrid forward dropped the smile and snapped back immediately: “You’re terrible.”
The Brazilian has become one of the league’s most polarizing figures, admired for his talent and impact but constantly targeted by rival fans and increasingly by opposing players eager to get under his skin. He has developed a reputation for engaging openly, sometimes excessively, with the hostility surrounding him. Critics argue that he feeds these altercations too easily, while supporters claim that these provocations are driven by obsession, jealousy, and a refusal by some sectors to accept his status as one of LaLiga’s biggest stars.
This match in Vallecas did little to change that narrative. If anything, it reinforced the idea that every Real Madrid away game involving Vinicius now carries two simultaneous battles: one within the ninety minutes of football, and another in the emotional, psychological arena that surrounds him.
As long as he continues to be one of Madrid’s most influential players, the spotlight and the pressure will only grow. And as long as he continues to respond with the mix of smiles, taunts, and self-assured comments like “They pay a year just to see me,” the tension between Vinicius and rival fanbases seems destined to continue.
