With time, and the tie, ebbing away from Real Madrid against Paris Saint-Germain at the Bernabéu, Karim Benzema’s press on Gigi Donnarumma popped the ball up on the outer edge of PSG’s goalmouth. Vinícius Júnior won the reaction test of mentality and athleticism to seize possession.
What happened next turned the tie, but was also a crystal-clear demonstration of how this ebullient, joyous, sometimes raw but utterly exceptional Brazilian talent has matured and formed an extraordinary partnership with the 34-year-old Frenchman in recent months.
The point is that Vinícius stopped to think. Split seconds, but vital. He steadied himself, applied brains ahead of gut-instinct and, in looking up, played the pass that revolutionised the tie. It set Benzema up to side-foot home for 1-1 on the night, but 2-1 down on aggregate. Seventeen minutes later he had completed his hat-trick and Vinícius had sparked one of the great Real Madrid remontadas. In the crucial moment Vinícius didn’t dribble, he didn’t shoot. He displayed ‘pausa’ as the Spanish call it: the usually innate instinct that makes a good player great.
It’s the instinct that makes a player seem to have the precious extra seconds to choose, and then effect, the right option when there is thud and blunder all around. It’s the quality that some, especially the impatient and the injudicious, had begun to question whether Vinícius possessed when he was having a developmental lull in the early part of last season. Now the picture has changed – radically.
Vinícius is on excelsior form. He thrives on the advice from players such as Luka Modrić, as well as the link play with left-back Ferland Mendy. But the fibre-optic fast-learning process that Vinícius has pushed himself through over the past several months means that it’s with Benzema – 13 years his senior, one of Los Blancos’ most imperious ever players – that a Vesuvius of beautiful play, symbiotic understanding, assists and great goals has begun to flow. The Paris win marked the 71st goal that the two have scored or assisted for Madrid this season; by the time you read this there will have been more.
The breakthrough came when Vinícius used the summer, and particularly his post Copa América assimilation period, to get himself in great physical shape. But, more importantly, when he let great advice from Modrić, Carlo Ancelotti and Benzema sink in. When he learned and grew.
Long before the Paris tie there came a warning. It was October. Madrid had just lost at home to Sheriff. A vastly different performance level was imperative in Kyiv against Shakhtar or their Group D health would be in danger. Fifty-five minutes in, Madrid 2-0 up, Vinícius took a pass from Benzema and, having sold outrageous dummies to both Dodô and Serhiy Kryvtsov during a slalom through the Shakhtar penalty box, he thrashed a powerful left-footed finish past Anatolii Trubin into the roof of the net. Magic had been created. Madrid’s No20 takes up the story.
“You ask me to describe it… so I’ll say it was fantastic, amazing and fearless! From Karim’s ball I was in a one-v-one situation, which I like the most. Although I wasn’t playing well in that match I felt I could score. As I went past one, two, three players, I got more confident. In the end I finished with my left, something I am not that used to doing, but I’ve improved this season. I was very happy with that goal.”
With time, and the tie, ebbing away from Real Madrid against Paris Saint-Germain at the Bernabéu, Karim Benzema’s press on Gigi Donnarumma popped the ball up on the outer edge of PSG’s goalmouth. Vinícius Júnior won the reaction test of mentality and athleticism to seize possession.
What happened next turned the tie, but was also a crystal-clear demonstration of how this ebullient, joyous, sometimes raw but utterly exceptional Brazilian talent has matured and formed an extraordinary partnership with the 34-year-old Frenchman in recent months.
The point is that Vinícius stopped to think. Split seconds, but vital. He steadied himself, applied brains ahead of gut-instinct and, in looking up, played the pass that revolutionised the tie. It set Benzema up to side-foot home for 1-1 on the night, but 2-1 down on aggregate. Seventeen minutes later he had completed his hat-trick and Vinícius had sparked one of the great Real Madrid remontadas. In the crucial moment Vinícius didn’t dribble, he didn’t shoot. He displayed ‘pausa’ as the Spanish call it: the usually innate instinct that makes a good player great.
It’s the instinct that makes a player seem to have the precious extra seconds to choose, and then effect, the right option when there is thud and blunder all around. It’s the quality that some, especially the impatient and the injudicious, had begun to question whether Vinícius possessed when he was having a developmental lull in the early part of last season. Now the picture has changed – radically.
Vinícius is on excelsior form. He thrives on the advice from players such as Luka Modrić, as well as the link play with left-back Ferland Mendy. But the fibre-optic fast-learning process that Vinícius has pushed himself through over the past several months means that it’s with Benzema – 13 years his senior, one of Los Blancos’ most imperious ever players – that a Vesuvius of beautiful play, symbiotic understanding, assists and great goals has begun to flow. The Paris win marked the 71st goal that the two have scored or assisted for Madrid this season; by the time you read this there will have been more.
The breakthrough came when Vinícius used the summer, and particularly his post Copa América assimilation period, to get himself in great physical shape. But, more importantly, when he let great advice from Modrić, Carlo Ancelotti and Benzema sink in. When he learned and grew.
Long before the Paris tie there came a warning. It was October. Madrid had just lost at home to Sheriff. A vastly different performance level was imperative in Kyiv against Shakhtar or their Group D health would be in danger. Fifty-five minutes in, Madrid 2-0 up, Vinícius took a pass from Benzema and, having sold outrageous dummies to both Dodô and Serhiy Kryvtsov during a slalom through the Shakhtar penalty box, he thrashed a powerful left-footed finish past Anatolii Trubin into the roof of the net. Magic had been created. Madrid’s No20 takes up the story.
“You ask me to describe it… so I’ll say it was fantastic, amazing and fearless! From Karim’s ball I was in a one-v-one situation, which I like the most. Although I wasn’t playing well in that match I felt I could score. As I went past one, two, three players, I got more confident. In the end I finished with my left, something I am not that used to doing, but I’ve improved this season. I was very happy with that goal.”
Feeling like he wasn’t playing well yet with total confidence that his remarkable, intricate dribble might come off. Where does that instinct come from? “It comes from my idols – Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Neymar – all those players I followed in my childhood and whom I wanted to imitate when I played in the streets. God gave me the gift to do great things with a ball and to be very skilful. I play with joy. My character helps me to never get down, even when I make mistakes.”
His goal was a scintillation for the senses. But Vinícius now is about efficacy as much as vivacity. It’s an arresting stat that he has more goals than Cristiano Ronaldo did after 29 Champions League matches. More assists than Messi after that same number of games in this competition. “I’ve always had confidence but when you start scoring and assisting more you become more important for the team and, of course, confidence increases. The key was during the summer holidays. I trained so I could reach another level. I worked on my fitness and as soon as I arrived in Madrid I started dieting. I believe I came back as the best version of myself. Because of the Copa América I came back after many of my team-mates, I knew I’d have just a few days of training and that I had to be prepared.”
He, himself, is the main beneficiary. But Madrid’s French legend, Benzema, who just overtook Alfredo Di Stéfano to become the club’s all-time third top scorer, is next in line. “Karim is a great person and a great player. He does everything he can to help me on and off the pitch. It’s a dream come true to be playing with him. He’s a player I grew up watching in video games and his quality is incredible. I’ve never played with a forward at his level. He’s different from the rest and whenever he’s not on the pitch, we miss him.
“Since the beginning I’ve won him space to play and he does the same for me. We’ve been trying to perfect this relationship so I can assist more, score more and help the team more.”
“I’m 21 and I want to stay here for a long time. I want to break a lot of records. When I reached 100 appearances I was among the four youngest players to achieve that for Real Madrid. That is really important. They’re all legends: Raúl González, [José Antonio] Camacho and [Iker] Casillas. For me, to be the fourth one is really important.”
He and Benzema share more than the assists, flicks, one-twos, goals and points they’ve gifted Madridistas in increasing numbers this season: they share a hero. When he was growing up, Benzema decorated his walls with Ronaldo posters, kept his hair shorn in suede-head style to mirror the awesome Brazilian. Ditto Vinícius’ feelings on the ex-Madrid maestro.
“My idols are my inspirations. Ronaldo was an all-time great footballer and a legend here at Real. I had the enormous joy of having him present me at the stadium on my first day at the most important club in the world. Idols are vital to children; they leave a mark on our lives. Ronaldo defined an era and I believe he’s one of the best players ever. Having him, Cristiano Ronaldo, LeBron James and Michael Jordan as heroes is a big deal to me.”
We are witnessing the growth and maturing of an exceptionally talented, dedicated and exciting young player. One who’s not only lighting up Madrid’s current season but already carving his name in their history.
“I’m 21 and I want to stay here for a long time. I want to break a lot of records. When I reached 100 appearances I was among the four youngest players to achieve that for Real Madrid. That is really important. They’re all legends: Raúl González, [José Antonio] Camacho and [Iker] Casillas. For me, to be the fourth one is really important.”
He’s more than the fourth man though. Top man, top player. Watch him go.
With time, and the tie, ebbing away from Real Madrid against Paris Saint-Germain at the Bernabéu, Karim Benzema’s press on Gigi Donnarumma popped the ball up on the outer edge of PSG’s goalmouth. Vinícius Júnior won the reaction test of mentality and athleticism to seize possession.
What happened next turned the tie, but was also a crystal-clear demonstration of how this ebullient, joyous, sometimes raw but utterly exceptional Brazilian talent has matured and formed an extraordinary partnership with the 34-year-old Frenchman in recent months.
The point is that Vinícius stopped to think. Split seconds, but vital. He steadied himself, applied brains ahead of gut-instinct and, in looking up, played the pass that revolutionised the tie. It set Benzema up to side-foot home for 1-1 on the night, but 2-1 down on aggregate. Seventeen minutes later he had completed his hat-trick and Vinícius had sparked one of the great Real Madrid remontadas. In the crucial moment Vinícius didn’t dribble, he didn’t shoot. He displayed ‘pausa’ as the Spanish call it: the usually innate instinct that makes a good player great.
It’s the instinct that makes a player seem to have the precious extra seconds to choose, and then effect, the right option when there is thud and blunder all around. It’s the quality that some, especially the impatient and the injudicious, had begun to question whether Vinícius possessed when he was having a developmental lull in the early part of last season. Now the picture has changed – radically.
Vinícius is on excelsior form. He thrives on the advice from players such as Luka Modrić, as well as the link play with left-back Ferland Mendy. But the fibre-optic fast-learning process that Vinícius has pushed himself through over the past several months means that it’s with Benzema – 13 years his senior, one of Los Blancos’ most imperious ever players – that a Vesuvius of beautiful play, symbiotic understanding, assists and great goals has begun to flow. The Paris win marked the 71st goal that the two have scored or assisted for Madrid this season; by the time you read this there will have been more.
The breakthrough came when Vinícius used the summer, and particularly his post Copa América assimilation period, to get himself in great physical shape. But, more importantly, when he let great advice from Modrić, Carlo Ancelotti and Benzema sink in. When he learned and grew.
Long before the Paris tie there came a warning. It was October. Madrid had just lost at home to Sheriff. A vastly different performance level was imperative in Kyiv against Shakhtar or their Group D health would be in danger. Fifty-five minutes in, Madrid 2-0 up, Vinícius took a pass from Benzema and, having sold outrageous dummies to both Dodô and Serhiy Kryvtsov during a slalom through the Shakhtar penalty box, he thrashed a powerful left-footed finish past Anatolii Trubin into the roof of the net. Magic had been created. Madrid’s No20 takes up the story.
“You ask me to describe it… so I’ll say it was fantastic, amazing and fearless! From Karim’s ball I was in a one-v-one situation, which I like the most. Although I wasn’t playing well in that match I felt I could score. As I went past one, two, three players, I got more confident. In the end I finished with my left, something I am not that used to doing, but I’ve improved this season. I was very happy with that goal.”
With time, and the tie, ebbing away from Real Madrid against Paris Saint-Germain at the Bernabéu, Karim Benzema’s press on Gigi Donnarumma popped the ball up on the outer edge of PSG’s goalmouth. Vinícius Júnior won the reaction test of mentality and athleticism to seize possession.
What happened next turned the tie, but was also a crystal-clear demonstration of how this ebullient, joyous, sometimes raw but utterly exceptional Brazilian talent has matured and formed an extraordinary partnership with the 34-year-old Frenchman in recent months.
The point is that Vinícius stopped to think. Split seconds, but vital. He steadied himself, applied brains ahead of gut-instinct and, in looking up, played the pass that revolutionised the tie. It set Benzema up to side-foot home for 1-1 on the night, but 2-1 down on aggregate. Seventeen minutes later he had completed his hat-trick and Vinícius had sparked one of the great Real Madrid remontadas. In the crucial moment Vinícius didn’t dribble, he didn’t shoot. He displayed ‘pausa’ as the Spanish call it: the usually innate instinct that makes a good player great.
It’s the instinct that makes a player seem to have the precious extra seconds to choose, and then effect, the right option when there is thud and blunder all around. It’s the quality that some, especially the impatient and the injudicious, had begun to question whether Vinícius possessed when he was having a developmental lull in the early part of last season. Now the picture has changed – radically.
Vinícius is on excelsior form. He thrives on the advice from players such as Luka Modrić, as well as the link play with left-back Ferland Mendy. But the fibre-optic fast-learning process that Vinícius has pushed himself through over the past several months means that it’s with Benzema – 13 years his senior, one of Los Blancos’ most imperious ever players – that a Vesuvius of beautiful play, symbiotic understanding, assists and great goals has begun to flow. The Paris win marked the 71st goal that the two have scored or assisted for Madrid this season; by the time you read this there will have been more.
The breakthrough came when Vinícius used the summer, and particularly his post Copa América assimilation period, to get himself in great physical shape. But, more importantly, when he let great advice from Modrić, Carlo Ancelotti and Benzema sink in. When he learned and grew.
Long before the Paris tie there came a warning. It was October. Madrid had just lost at home to Sheriff. A vastly different performance level was imperative in Kyiv against Shakhtar or their Group D health would be in danger. Fifty-five minutes in, Madrid 2-0 up, Vinícius took a pass from Benzema and, having sold outrageous dummies to both Dodô and Serhiy Kryvtsov during a slalom through the Shakhtar penalty box, he thrashed a powerful left-footed finish past Anatolii Trubin into the roof of the net. Magic had been created. Madrid’s No20 takes up the story.
“You ask me to describe it… so I’ll say it was fantastic, amazing and fearless! From Karim’s ball I was in a one-v-one situation, which I like the most. Although I wasn’t playing well in that match I felt I could score. As I went past one, two, three players, I got more confident. In the end I finished with my left, something I am not that used to doing, but I’ve improved this season. I was very happy with that goal.”
With time, and the tie, ebbing away from Real Madrid against Paris Saint-Germain at the Bernabéu, Karim Benzema’s press on Gigi Donnarumma popped the ball up on the outer edge of PSG’s goalmouth. Vinícius Júnior won the reaction test of mentality and athleticism to seize possession.
What happened next turned the tie, but was also a crystal-clear demonstration of how this ebullient, joyous, sometimes raw but utterly exceptional Brazilian talent has matured and formed an extraordinary partnership with the 34-year-old Frenchman in recent months.
The point is that Vinícius stopped to think. Split seconds, but vital. He steadied himself, applied brains ahead of gut-instinct and, in looking up, played the pass that revolutionised the tie. It set Benzema up to side-foot home for 1-1 on the night, but 2-1 down on aggregate. Seventeen minutes later he had completed his hat-trick and Vinícius had sparked one of the great Real Madrid remontadas. In the crucial moment Vinícius didn’t dribble, he didn’t shoot. He displayed ‘pausa’ as the Spanish call it: the usually innate instinct that makes a good player great.
It’s the instinct that makes a player seem to have the precious extra seconds to choose, and then effect, the right option when there is thud and blunder all around. It’s the quality that some, especially the impatient and the injudicious, had begun to question whether Vinícius possessed when he was having a developmental lull in the early part of last season. Now the picture has changed – radically.
Vinícius is on excelsior form. He thrives on the advice from players such as Luka Modrić, as well as the link play with left-back Ferland Mendy. But the fibre-optic fast-learning process that Vinícius has pushed himself through over the past several months means that it’s with Benzema – 13 years his senior, one of Los Blancos’ most imperious ever players – that a Vesuvius of beautiful play, symbiotic understanding, assists and great goals has begun to flow. The Paris win marked the 71st goal that the two have scored or assisted for Madrid this season; by the time you read this there will have been more.
The breakthrough came when Vinícius used the summer, and particularly his post Copa América assimilation period, to get himself in great physical shape. But, more importantly, when he let great advice from Modrić, Carlo Ancelotti and Benzema sink in. When he learned and grew.
Long before the Paris tie there came a warning. It was October. Madrid had just lost at home to Sheriff. A vastly different performance level was imperative in Kyiv against Shakhtar or their Group D health would be in danger. Fifty-five minutes in, Madrid 2-0 up, Vinícius took a pass from Benzema and, having sold outrageous dummies to both Dodô and Serhiy Kryvtsov during a slalom through the Shakhtar penalty box, he thrashed a powerful left-footed finish past Anatolii Trubin into the roof of the net. Magic had been created. Madrid’s No20 takes up the story.
“You ask me to describe it… so I’ll say it was fantastic, amazing and fearless! From Karim’s ball I was in a one-v-one situation, which I like the most. Although I wasn’t playing well in that match I felt I could score. As I went past one, two, three players, I got more confident. In the end I finished with my left, something I am not that used to doing, but I’ve improved this season. I was very happy with that goal.”
Feeling like he wasn’t playing well yet with total confidence that his remarkable, intricate dribble might come off. Where does that instinct come from? “It comes from my idols – Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Neymar – all those players I followed in my childhood and whom I wanted to imitate when I played in the streets. God gave me the gift to do great things with a ball and to be very skilful. I play with joy. My character helps me to never get down, even when I make mistakes.”
His goal was a scintillation for the senses. But Vinícius now is about efficacy as much as vivacity. It’s an arresting stat that he has more goals than Cristiano Ronaldo did after 29 Champions League matches. More assists than Messi after that same number of games in this competition. “I’ve always had confidence but when you start scoring and assisting more you become more important for the team and, of course, confidence increases. The key was during the summer holidays. I trained so I could reach another level. I worked on my fitness and as soon as I arrived in Madrid I started dieting. I believe I came back as the best version of myself. Because of the Copa América I came back after many of my team-mates, I knew I’d have just a few days of training and that I had to be prepared.”
He, himself, is the main beneficiary. But Madrid’s French legend, Benzema, who just overtook Alfredo Di Stéfano to become the club’s all-time third top scorer, is next in line. “Karim is a great person and a great player. He does everything he can to help me on and off the pitch. It’s a dream come true to be playing with him. He’s a player I grew up watching in video games and his quality is incredible. I’ve never played with a forward at his level. He’s different from the rest and whenever he’s not on the pitch, we miss him.
“Since the beginning I’ve won him space to play and he does the same for me. We’ve been trying to perfect this relationship so I can assist more, score more and help the team more.”
“I’m 21 and I want to stay here for a long time. I want to break a lot of records. When I reached 100 appearances I was among the four youngest players to achieve that for Real Madrid. That is really important. They’re all legends: Raúl González, [José Antonio] Camacho and [Iker] Casillas. For me, to be the fourth one is really important.”
He and Benzema share more than the assists, flicks, one-twos, goals and points they’ve gifted Madridistas in increasing numbers this season: they share a hero. When he was growing up, Benzema decorated his walls with Ronaldo posters, kept his hair shorn in suede-head style to mirror the awesome Brazilian. Ditto Vinícius’ feelings on the ex-Madrid maestro.
“My idols are my inspirations. Ronaldo was an all-time great footballer and a legend here at Real. I had the enormous joy of having him present me at the stadium on my first day at the most important club in the world. Idols are vital to children; they leave a mark on our lives. Ronaldo defined an era and I believe he’s one of the best players ever. Having him, Cristiano Ronaldo, LeBron James and Michael Jordan as heroes is a big deal to me.”
We are witnessing the growth and maturing of an exceptionally talented, dedicated and exciting young player. One who’s not only lighting up Madrid’s current season but already carving his name in their history.
“I’m 21 and I want to stay here for a long time. I want to break a lot of records. When I reached 100 appearances I was among the four youngest players to achieve that for Real Madrid. That is really important. They’re all legends: Raúl González, [José Antonio] Camacho and [Iker] Casillas. For me, to be the fourth one is really important.”
He’s more than the fourth man though. Top man, top player. Watch him go.
With time, and the tie, ebbing away from Real Madrid against Paris Saint-Germain at the Bernabéu, Karim Benzema’s press on Gigi Donnarumma popped the ball up on the outer edge of PSG’s goalmouth. Vinícius Júnior won the reaction test of mentality and athleticism to seize possession.
What happened next turned the tie, but was also a crystal-clear demonstration of how this ebullient, joyous, sometimes raw but utterly exceptional Brazilian talent has matured and formed an extraordinary partnership with the 34-year-old Frenchman in recent months.
The point is that Vinícius stopped to think. Split seconds, but vital. He steadied himself, applied brains ahead of gut-instinct and, in looking up, played the pass that revolutionised the tie. It set Benzema up to side-foot home for 1-1 on the night, but 2-1 down on aggregate. Seventeen minutes later he had completed his hat-trick and Vinícius had sparked one of the great Real Madrid remontadas. In the crucial moment Vinícius didn’t dribble, he didn’t shoot. He displayed ‘pausa’ as the Spanish call it: the usually innate instinct that makes a good player great.
It’s the instinct that makes a player seem to have the precious extra seconds to choose, and then effect, the right option when there is thud and blunder all around. It’s the quality that some, especially the impatient and the injudicious, had begun to question whether Vinícius possessed when he was having a developmental lull in the early part of last season. Now the picture has changed – radically.
Vinícius is on excelsior form. He thrives on the advice from players such as Luka Modrić, as well as the link play with left-back Ferland Mendy. But the fibre-optic fast-learning process that Vinícius has pushed himself through over the past several months means that it’s with Benzema – 13 years his senior, one of Los Blancos’ most imperious ever players – that a Vesuvius of beautiful play, symbiotic understanding, assists and great goals has begun to flow. The Paris win marked the 71st goal that the two have scored or assisted for Madrid this season; by the time you read this there will have been more.
The breakthrough came when Vinícius used the summer, and particularly his post Copa América assimilation period, to get himself in great physical shape. But, more importantly, when he let great advice from Modrić, Carlo Ancelotti and Benzema sink in. When he learned and grew.
Long before the Paris tie there came a warning. It was October. Madrid had just lost at home to Sheriff. A vastly different performance level was imperative in Kyiv against Shakhtar or their Group D health would be in danger. Fifty-five minutes in, Madrid 2-0 up, Vinícius took a pass from Benzema and, having sold outrageous dummies to both Dodô and Serhiy Kryvtsov during a slalom through the Shakhtar penalty box, he thrashed a powerful left-footed finish past Anatolii Trubin into the roof of the net. Magic had been created. Madrid’s No20 takes up the story.
“You ask me to describe it… so I’ll say it was fantastic, amazing and fearless! From Karim’s ball I was in a one-v-one situation, which I like the most. Although I wasn’t playing well in that match I felt I could score. As I went past one, two, three players, I got more confident. In the end I finished with my left, something I am not that used to doing, but I’ve improved this season. I was very happy with that goal.”
