Vinícius Júnior delayed Barcelona’s title celebrations in the Spanish Championship with a superb performance and two goals in Sunday’s win over Espanyol. Those strikes took the Brazilian beyond the 20-goal mark once again this season, although his fine form has done little to ease the sense of crisis at the Santiago Bernabéu.

The league trophy now looks set to remain in Barcelona. With an 11-point gap to their arch-rivals, Real Madrid are bracing themselves for a disappointing end to the campaign, with the uneasy mood lingering ever since their 2023/24 Champions League triumph.

Vinícius was the standout figure in that success and finished 2024 as FIFA’s The Best Men’s Player. Since then, however, the club has undergone significant change and turbulence - notably Toni Kroos’ retirement, Kylian Mbappé’s arrival, and the subsequent departure of veteran Luka Modric. Through it all, the winger’s consistency has endured, despite mounting pressure and criticism.

Fifth straight season above 20

When he arrived at Real Madrid at just 18, with limited professional experience, Vinícius faced a clear challenge: to improve his end product in the final third. The former Flamengo prodigy, developed at Ninho do Urubu, was widely regarded as a major talent but lacked composure in front of goal. His first three seasons showcased his pace and directness, but yielded only 15 goals in total.

His leap in quality and maturity became evident in the 2021/22 season. Across 52 matches, he scored 22 goals and provided 16 assists, marking his rise to a new level. He played a decisive role in Real Madrid’s Champions League triumph, scoring in the final, and began to establish himself among the world’s elite, even as Karim Benzema remained the focal point of the attack.

In 2022/23, Vinícius improved further, recording 23 goals and 19 assists in 55 appearances. Despite injury setbacks, he remained crucial the following season, registering 24 goals and nine assists in just 39 matches. Now the team’s main attacking figure, he once again scored in a Champions League final, securing his second European title - a campaign that would ultimately earn him the Ballon d’Or.

Criticism has persisted, particularly regarding his on-pitch relationship with Mbappé as Real Madrid’s performances dipped. However, while the French forward has continued to produce remarkable numbers - 44 goals in his first season and 41 in the current one - Vinícius’ output has not suffered. He has maintained the consistency that has defined his recent seasons.

In 2024/25, he recorded 22 goals and 16 assists in 58 appearances. This season, he has already reached 21 goals and 10 assists in 50 matches. He played a key role in victories over Manchester City and Benfica in the Champions League knockout stages, scoring four goals across those ties, although he was unable to prevent the eventual elimination against Bayern Munich.

Real Madrid are still searching for balance following the departures of Kroos and Modric - and, before them, the midfield trio that defined an era alongside Casemiro. The club is also adjusting to a new leadership structure after Carlo Ancelotti’s departure at the end of last season to take charge of Brazil.

Through it all, Vinícius Júnior continues to deliver - at least in terms of numbers.