One goal, two assists, seven chances created and 19 breakthroughs. Vinicius Junior's brilliant performance in Real Madrid's 6-1 victory over AS Monaco in the Champions League is a clear reminder that, when in high form - as coach Alvaro Arbeloa affirmed after the match - "he is the most dangerous player on the field".
That is an image that Bernabeu fans rarely witness this season. Before the most recent match, Vinicius only scored exactly one goal in 19 appearances. Although that goal was of very high class - a spectacular solo in the Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona - it was still just a rare highlight amidst a long streak of decline from the beginning of October.
According to the strict standards that Vinicius himself set for himself, this is a disappointing season. The Brazilian star has only contributed 5 goals and 5 assists after 20 La Liga matches, a number not commensurate with the position of a Ballon d'Or candidate.
Under former coach Xabi Alonso, Vinicius even lost his starting spot. He had to sit on the bench four times despite being completely healthy, in the context of the relationship between the two becoming increasingly tense.
Vinicius's anger when he was substituted in the El Clasico in October was seen as the beginning of a series of upheavals at Real Madrid. From then on, the whole team's performance declined, the terrible results followed each other, before Alonso officially left the Bernabeu last week.
In addition to the football field, doubts about Vinicius's long-term future are also increasing. His current contract will expire on June 30, 2027, but extension negotiations have been almost deadlocked for months.
Fans' dissatisfaction reached its peak in the match against Levante last weekend, when whistles rang out fiercely every time Vinicius touched the ball.
The past few days have been really difficult for me. Because of the whistles, because of everything that is said. I am always the center of attention, but I just want to be mentioned because of what I show on the pitch" - Vinicius admitted after the match against Monaco.
According to sources, the rift with Alonso is the biggest obstacle in the contract extension process. A source affirmed: "Reaching a new agreement is almost impossible as long as Alonso is in office".
Although the Spanish coach tried to reconcile in the final weeks, all interaction between the two sides only stopped at a social level. Vinicius is also one of the few players who did not post a farewell message to Alonso on social networks.
In stark contrast to his predecessor, Arbeloa quickly placed absolute faith in Real Madrid's number 7. "When Vinicius played at the Bernabeu, he could not be stopped. If we want to compete for titles, we need Vinicius. He is emotional, and needs to feel the love from the audience" - Arbeloa affirmed.
One day before the match, Arbeloa also emphasized a completely different philosophy: "Vinicius will always be on the field when he is ready".
That trust quickly brought about efficiency. Against Monaco, Vinicius not only scored but also completely controlled the left wing, continuously tearing apart the opponent's defense, directly participating in 3 of Real Madrid's 6 goals.
That was a performance that helped Bernabeu forget the whistles last weekend, replaced by long applause - the emotion that Vinicius lacked for many months.
However, his future has not yet been decided. There has been no progress in negotiations since May last year, and the player's side is said to be ready to wait until after the 2026 World Cup to make a final decision.
That means Real Madrid is at risk of entering the final year of their contract with one of the best players in the world - who won the 2024 Ballon d'Or runner-up and was honored by FIFA as the Man of the Year.
The question now is no longer whether Vinicius is classy or not. But whether Real Madrid can keep him or not when number 7 has just proven that, at his peak form, he is still an irreplaceable star at the Bernabeu.
