Vinicius Junior Lets His Game Do the Talking Against City

Vinicius Junior didn’t need words to silence Manchester City fans in the Champions League. Instead, he let his actions speak, pointing to the number 15 on his Real Madrid jersey. The 15-time Champions League winners Los Blancos travelled to the Etihad Stadium for the first leg of the Champions League play-off on Tuesday, February 11. They battled hard and secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Manchester City.

Erling Haaland twice put City in the lead, but Kylian Mbappe, Brahim Diaz, and Jude Bellingham responded with goals to seal Real Madrid’s win. The 24-year-old Brazilian striker didn’t score, but he made a huge impact—both with his performance and his reaction to the hostile crowd.

The Citizens fans prepared a heated reception for him. Behind the goal, Man City unfurled a massive banner featuring Rodri with the Ballon d’Or, alongside the message "Stop Crying Your Heart Out."

The banner mocked Real Madrid’s decision to boycott the 2024 Ballon d’Or gala after learning that Vinicius wouldn’t win.

On top of that, the crowd booed him every time he touched the ball. But Vinicius didn’t let it shake him, he played a key role in Real Madrid’s second and third goals, proving his class under pressure.

When celebrating the third goal, he made his statement. He pointed to the 15 logo on his sleeve—a reminder of Real Madrid’s record-breaking 15 Champions League titles, towering over Manchester City’s achievements.

Vinicius didn’t just handle the taunts—he thrived on them. He delivered a standout performance and earned the Man of the Match award. After the game, he admitted that the hostile crowd only fueled his fire.

"Yes, I saw it. Sometimes, opposition fans try to bring me down, but instead, they push me to achieve great things. I did it again tonight, and we won," Vinicius told the club’s official website.

"Now, we return to Madrid, where our fans will make it special. They know our history and what we’re capable of in this competition," he added.