In a recent interview with Globo Esporte, Ancelotti was asked about the best Brazilian player he has coached in his 30-year career. “Technically, Ronaldo was spectacular and one of the funniest people in the world,” the Italian coach said without hesitation.

Ancelotti was referring, of course, to Ronaldo Nazario—the center forward born in Rio de Janeiro who starred for Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Inter Milan, and won the 2002 World Cup. Carlo briefly worked with him at AC Milan between 2007 and 2008, though the forward played just 20 matches and scored 9 goals due to recurring injury problems.

In the same interview, the coach also highlighted other Brazilian players he’s worked with throughout his career. “I can tell you that the most professional is Cafu,” he said, referencing the right-back he also coached at AC Milan. “And the funniest… There are many. (Eder) Militao makes me laugh a lot, Vini too.”

Specifically on Vinicius, whom he knows well from their time together at Real Madrid, Carlo explained: “Vini, for example, to me, is very humble. A very, very humble kid.” That strong relationship between the two will now be key as their paths cross again with the Brazil national team.

Ancelotti reflects on his experience with Brazilian players

Over the course of his three-decade coaching career, Carlo Ancelotti has worked with stars from all over the world, giving him rare perspective when it comes to comparing styles and personalities. “The Brazilian player has a higher technical level than others,” he stated.

Speaking about the typical demeanor of Brazilian players, he added: “They manage themselves quite well and have a fairly calm and humble character.” Based on that, Carlo explained that he’s rarely had issues in the past. “I’ve coached 34 Brazilian players and if I think about whether I’ve had any problems with any of them—maybe one, but I won’t tell you who,” he said.

Ancelotti’s first challenge

Carlo Ancelotti won’t have much time to adjust or fully implement his ideas with the squad. His debut comes Thursday, June 5, on Matchday 15 of the South American qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Brazil will face Ecuador—one of their direct rivals in the standings—at Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha.

Five days later, they’ll return home to face Paraguay in another crucial match in the race to secure a spot in next year’s tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. For now, Brazil sit in fourth place in the standings with 21 points—the same as Paraguay and Uruguay—and hold a six-point advantage over Venezuela, who are currently in the playoff position.

According to UEFA, an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector has been appointed to examine accusations of “indecent conduct” against the mentioned players. While UEFA did not detail the incidents under review, Spanish media reported that Atletico filed a complaint over the behaviour of Real’s players during their celebrations.

Footage captured multiple Real Madrid players celebrating with dances and gestures directed at Atletico supporters, prompting a reaction from the crowd, who threw objects from the stands. The gestures include Rudiger’s throat-cutting gesture, Mbappe grabbing his genitals, Vinicius confronting the crowd while pointing at the Real Madrid badge, and gestures from Ceballos, who, despite being injured and not playing in the match, was involved in the events.

The appointed inspector’s primary task will be to gather information from UEFA officials present at the Metropolitano Stadium regarding incidents that occurred during and after the match, beyond the widely circulated social media footage.

Additionally, Real Madrid will have the opportunity to present arguments in its defense once the governing body reaches a verdict. Potential sanctions could range from match suspensions for one or more players to financial penalties.

Official UEFA statement on the incident

UEFA released an official statement on Thursday confirming the investigation:
“A UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector has been appointed to investigate allegations of indecent conduct by Real Madrid CF players (Antonio Rüdiger, Kylian Mbappé, Daniel Ceballos Fernández and Vinícius Júnior) during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match between Club Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid CF on 12 March 2025.”

There is concern about the Arsenal clash

Real Madrid is closely monitoring the case due to the risk of suspensions for one or more of the involved players. If sanctions are imposed, Carlo Ancelotti may be forced to do without the four players for at least the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals against Arsenal, scheduled for Tuesday, April 8, at Emirates Stadium.

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are deciding their fate at the 2024-25 Champions League. After Los Blancos won the first leg 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu, they are facing at the Metropolitano Stadium. With the match 1-0 in favor of the hosts, Vinicius Junior had the chance to equalize from the penalty spot but he missed the shot.

At the 69th minute mark, after Clement Lenglet fouled Kylian Mbappe in the box, Vinicius sent the ball out with a wide shot that went high. The goal could have put them in a position to qualify directly, as they had the first led advantage.

In the first leg, Madrid won 2-1 thanks to goals from Rodrygo Goes and Brahim Diaz, while Julian Alvarez scored for the visitors. However, in the second leg, Conor Gallagher scored to give Atletico the lead with a 27 second goal, which is one of the fastest goals Real Madrid have conceded in Champions League history.

According to MisterChip, Vinicius is only the third Real Madrid star to miss a penalty in a knockout match, following Figo, who missed against Juventus in 2003 and against Monaco in 2004, and Angel Di Maria, who missed against Dortmund in 2014.

Arsenal awaits their rivals in the quarterfinals

The winner between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will face Arsenal in the Champions League quarterfinals. The Gunners defeated PSV 9-3 on aggregate, after defeating them 7-1 in the first leg, and then tying 2-2 in the second.

Arsenal qualifies for the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals for the second consecutive season, something that hadn’t happened since the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons.

Given the demanding commitments Real Madrid will face in the coming days in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League, head coach Carlo Ancelotti decided to rest some of the team’s key players for the match against Real Sociedad. Among those rested were players who typically wear the captain’s armband, such as Luka Modric, Lucas Vazquez, and Federico Valverde.

As a result, Vinicius was entrusted with the responsibility of leading the team on the field—an honor he had never experienced before in his Real Madrid career. What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that the Brazilian winger reached this milestone at just 24 years of age, underscoring his immense importance to the team and his rapid evolution as a player.

To provide context, Cristiano Ronaldo became captain of Real Madrid for the first time when he was nearing his 28th birthday. This moment came on January 6, 2013, during a La Liga match between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad—curiously the same opponent the Spanish giants faced this week.

The age difference between Ronaldo’s first captaincy and Vinicius’ is striking. The Brazilian is more than three years ahead of the Portuguese forward, although CR7 has one advantage: he achieved the captaincy in fewer years at the club. In the 2012-13 season, Cristiano was in his third year at Real Madrid, while Vinicius is already in his seventh season with the club.

What did Vinicius say about his captaincy at Real Madrid?

After the 1-0 win against Real Sociedad, Vinicius spoke to Real Madrid TV, expressing his satisfaction with the achievement. “It’s something very special to be able to play for so long here and at the age of 24 to play my first game as captain. It’s very special for me and for my family, after everything we’ve been through to get here,” said the Brazilian winger.

“I am living it. It’s something I never even dreamed of,” Vini added. “It’s something different because you never imagine what’s going to happen to you. And happy to be able to enter as captain of the best club in the world to a Cup semifinal.” The superstar then made it clear that he has aspirations to continue breaking records at Real Madrid: “In the next game, it will be 300, but I already want the 400 and the 500 and to make history at this club.”

Real Madrid’s next challenges

This Saturday, Real Madrid will face an important match against Real Betis in Seville, aiming to reclaim the leadership in the standings that Barcelona recently took from them. Three days later, they will play the first leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 against Atletico Madrid—undoubtedly the most demanding challenge ahead for the Spanish giants.

While Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are usually named in the ‘greatest of all time’ debate, new stars are emerging as the current top players in the world. One of them is Vinicius Jr., who received high praise by Indiana Pacers star Pascal Siakam, who makes his third All-Star appearance this Sunday.

During a press conference on Feb. 15th for the NBA All-Star weekend, Siakam said about the Real Madrid star: “My boy, Vini Jr. ‘Cause, yeah, he’s nice. He’s my boy. And he’s tough. Best player right now in the world.” His compliments were quickly noticed by the Brazilian.

In a comment under the clip, which was shared by the Pacers’ Instagram account, Vinicius wrote: “My bro!!!!” accompanied by three heart emojis. So, it’s clear that the admiration is mutual. The Real Madrid forward has always been open about his love for the NBA, meeting other stars such as LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Victor Wembanyama.

The Brazilian also spent time with Siakam last summer when the NBA star stopped by Real Madrid’s training camp in Charlotte during the club’s preseason. He also was spotted with WNBA star Angel Reese, of the Chicago Sky, this past December.

Vinicius is in peak form with Madrid

Vinicius Jr. is hailed as one of the top players right now. While he finished second in the 2024 Ballon d’Or ranking, causing a backlash, the Real Madrid forward then won the FIFA The Best Award. Vinicius has already won 14 trophies with Los Blancos, including two UEFA Champions League titles and three La Liga trophies.

While Real Madrid are coming from a 1-1 draw against Osasuna in La Liga, the Brazilian star had enjoyed an impressive performance against Manchester City, being key in two goals for Los Blancos’ comeback in the knockout phase playoffs of the Champions League. So far, this season he has scored 16 goals and provided 12 assists in 31 appearances for Los Merengues.

Arsene Wenger also hails Vinicius as one of his top players to watch right now

Apart from Siakam, Vinicius has been receiving praise from his colleagues and coaches. His former Real Madrid teammates, such as Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos, all supported him after the Ballon d’Or snub, while Cristiano Ronaldo also said he deserved the award.

On the other hand, Arsene Wenger, former Arsenal manager, said in a video shared by GOAL that the Brazilian was one of his favorites players to watch right now, alongside Kylian Mbappe, Mohammed Salah, and Cole Palmer.

As Real Madrid push forward this season, Vinicius must continue proving he is the club’s biggest star, especially on the biggest stages. With Carlo Ancelotti’s men looking to secure their spot in the Champions League Round of 16, he cannot afford to fall short.

“We dominated world soccer for many years, but now we have to be humble enough to understand that we have been surpassed,” Ronaldo said in an interview with former player Romario. He made it clear that Brazil no longer holds the dominant position in global soccer that it did two decades ago.

When discussing the steps Brazil must take to regain its stature, the 2002 Ballon d’Or winner highlighted two key players. “Neymar is an important pillar. Vinicius is also an important pillar. We have two great players. We have to start from there, find a way for the team to play for them,” he explained.

Ronaldo was full of praise for the Santos star’s leadership and impact. “Neymar is a figure who inspires young players. On the field, he has a lot of personality, takes risks, tries, and is not afraid of kicks. He’s a scorer. I hope he comes back well because if he is well, the national team will find a good direction,” Nazario said. He added that Ney’s presence helps to “make up for the structural problems that the national team is experiencing.”

Ronaldo expects more from Vinicius

While Ronaldo acknowledged Vinicius Junior’s incredible performances with Real Madrid, calling his club contributions “crazy,” he made it clear that the winger has not yet replicated that form with the Brazilian national team. “He doesn’t manage to perform the same in the national team,” the former striker stated.

This has been a recurring critique of Vini’s performances with Brazil. Despite his status as one of the best players in the world and the current winner of FIFA’s The Best award, he has yet to make a similar impact with his national team.

Since making his debut in 2019, Vinicius has played 37 matches for Brazil, including friendlies, World Cup qualifiers, the 2021 and 2024 Copa America, and the 2022 World Cup. However, he has not won any titles with Brazil and has scored only five goals—far too few for a player of his caliber.

Ronaldo’s ambition for Brazilian soccer

In the same interview with Romario, Ronaldo expressed his desire to play a key role in the future of Brazilian soccer. He revealed that he feels prepared to serve as the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), aiming to bring “efficient management” and focus on developing young talent. “The CBF has to be the most beloved institution in Brazil. My goal is for soccer to be a transformative agent in Brazil,” he said.

This wouldn’t be Ronaldo’s first venture into soccer management. He currently serves as the president of Real Valladolid, a La Liga club in Spain, and was for years the majority owner of Cruzeiro, one of Brazil’s most storied clubs, where he began his playing career in 1992.

Carlo Ancelotti was asked at a press conference if he was concerned about the renewal of Vinicius Jr to which Ancelotti responded bluntly: “I’m tired of this. I’m not worried. He is happy and we are happy with him,” stated Carlo Ancelotti. For the Real Madrid coach, there should not be so much fuss about the renewal of the Brazilian star of Real Madrid, as he says he sees him happy and eager to stay in the team.

However, the issue of his renewal was very controversial, as according to Antonio Garcia of La Ser, Vinicius Jr would not accept a renewal of 20 million euros net per year, as he allegedly expects the figure to be higher. However, Antonio Garcia reports that Vinicius is calm as he still has a contract until 2027.

The challenge for Real Madrid lies in maintaining salary balance within the squad. According to Manu Carreño of La Ser, Vinicius, Jude Bellingham, and Kylian Mbappe all earn €15 million net per year. If Vinicius surpasses this amount, it could create tension within the locker room, as Real Madrid follows a strict salary structure to ensure harmony among its top stars.

Could Vinicius Jr really leave Real Madrid?

According to Diario AS, Saudi Arabia is making a massive push to lure Vinicius Jr., offering him a five-year contract worth €200 million per year. However, Real Madrid would only consider negotiations if Vinicius himself requests to leave.

Despite the lucrative offer, Vinicius reaffirmed his commitment to Real Madrid after the match against Manchester City: “I have a contract until 2027, but I’ve always said I want to be here for many years and to make history… Hopefully in the next few days I can resolve it and stay here for much longer”. While his desire to stay is clear, contract negotiations remain at a standstill, leaving some uncertainty about his long-term future at the club.

Carlo Ancelotti confirms return of two stars for Real Madrid’s clash with Manchester City

Despite their defensive absences, Real Madrid secured a 3-2 victory over Manchester City. However, during the post-match press conference, Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that David Alaba, Lucas Vazquez, and Antonio Rudiger will return on Tuesday ahead of the crucial rematch on February 19.

This news comes as a major boost for Madrid fans, as the team will regain its first-choice defensive backline just in time for another high-stakes showdown against Manchester City.

With 101 goals, Vini is the second-highest-scoring Brazilian in Real Madrid’s history, trailing only Ronaldo, who leads with 103 goals. Given the number of Brazilian legends who have graced the Spanish side over the years, this achievement would be a remarkable feat for the 24-year-old winger.

However, it’s important to note the significant difference in the goalscoring metrics between the two players. Ronaldo, who played for Real Madrid from 2002 to 2006, made 177 appearances for the club, averaging an impressive 0.59 goals per game.

Vinicius, on the other hand, has enjoyed a much longer tenure with the club. Having joined Los Merengues from Flamengo in 2018, the winger has spent seven years with the team, enduring a period of adaptation before finally establishing himself as one of the club’s standout stars. As a result, his goalscoring record is a bit different: It took him 295 appearances to reach 101 goals, yielding a goals-per-game average of 0.34.

When can Vinícius surpass Ronaldo’s record?

Vinicius reached the 100-goal mark for Real Madrid on January 22, scoring twice in a 2-0 win over RB Salzburg in the UEFA Champions League. Since then, however, he has not found the back of the net in any of the four subsequent matches across various competitions.

His next opportunity to move closer to, or even surpass, Ronaldo’s record will come this Saturday, February 15, when Real Madrid face Osasuna in La Liga. Three days later, the team will host Manchester City for the second leg of their Champions League encounter at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Perhaps one of those matches will be the stage for Vinicius to finally top the ranking.

The Brazilian top-scorers in Real Madrid history

Real Madrid’s rich history is filled with legendary Brazilian talent, and Ronaldo still holds the record for the most goals by a Brazilian player in the club’s history, with 103. Vinicius Júnior, for now, sits in second place with 101 goals.

In third place is a surprising name: legendary left-back Roberto Carlos, who scored 69 goals in 527 appearances for the club. Fourth is another current player, Rodrygo Goes, who has netted 67 goals for Los Blancos and is likely to climb the rankings in the near future. Completing the top five is another former left-back, Marcelo, who scored 38 goals in 546 appearances for Real Madrid.

City supporters greeted Vini with a banner in the stands featuring an image of Rodri kissing the prestigious trophy, accompanied by the phrase “Stop crying your heart out,” a reference to an Oasis song and a clear dig at the Brazilian, who was widely regarded as the frontrunner for the 2024 Ballon d’Or.

The jibes continued throughout the match at the Etihad, with fans chanting “Where’s your Ballon d’Or?” But the winger, unfazed, responded in style—by pointing at his jersey to reveal a patch celebrating Real Madrid’s record 15 UEFA Champions League titles, a full 14 more than Manchester City.

That was not Vinicius’ only response. After the match, he addressed the taunts head-on in his post-game press conference. “I saw the banner,” he acknowledged. “But whenever opposing fans do things like that, it only gives me more strength to deliver a great performance, and I believe I did that tonight.”

He also highlighted the significance of Real Madrid‘s legacy in the competition, noting the weight that history carries whenever the club steps onto the international stage. “They know our history and everything we’ve achieved in this competition,” Vinícius said. “This is our fifth time here, and while it’s always cold, this time we won. We have to keep this momentum going.”

Vinicius’ vital contribution to Madrid’s victory

Vinicius was crucial to Real Madrid’s victory in Manchester, providing the assist for Jude Bellingham’s stoppage-time goal, which proved to be the match-winner. For his efforts, the Brazilian star was named MVP, but he remained focused on the collective effort rather than individual accolades.

“It wasn’t bad, I was able to play a great game, we defended very well and it doesn’t matter who scores goals or is the MVP, we are here to do great things for this shirt and put Madrid in the highest place,” Vini said after the match. And he even humorously admitted that in the decisive play, he had originally aimed to shoot but accidentally set up Bellingham: “The important thing was the win, no matter how it came. On the last ball, I tried to shoot, and it ended up going to Jude.”

A crucial game ahead for Real Madrid

While the victory in Manchester was a crucial step, Vinicius made it clear that Real Madrid’s work is far from done. The second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, set for next Wednesday, February 19, remains pivotal for securing their spot in the Champions League Round of 16.

“There’s still a lot of soccer to be played in the second leg,” Vini emphasized. “We need to defend like we did today and make sure our fans are behind us for what promises to be a magical night.”

Vinicius Jr‘s contract expires in 2027. However, given the latent interest from Saudi Arabia, Real Madrid is looking to renew his contract to ensure his continuity at the club. But this renewal would have been complicated because according to Spanish journalist Mario Cortegana of The Athletic, Vinicius Jr rejected the first offer of renewal offered by Real Madrid.

Although Vinicius Jr. rejected Real Madrid’s initial renewal offer, his long-term future at the club is not in immediate danger. The Brazilian star still has three years remaining on his contract and has repeatedly expressed his desire to stay and build a legacy at Madrid, much like Cristiano Ronaldo.

According to Mario Cortegana, Vinicius currently earns €15 million per year and is seeking a salary increase, reflecting his status as Real Madrid’s offensive leader and one of the best players in the world.

A lucrative renewal for Vinicius Jr could spark discontent among players like Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe. While his teammates have always acknowledged him as Real Madrid’s offensive leader, the club maintains a structured salary hierarchy to prevent internal conflicts. Although the negotiation may not be overly complex, it sends a clear message: Despite the rumors, Vinicius Jr is untouchable and a cornerstone of Real Madrid’s long-term project.

Carlo Ancelotti makes some blunt remarks about the Real Madrid situation

Carlo Ancelotti claims that Real Madrid is in a crisis due to numerous injuries to his players. At the moment, Carlo is without most of his defensive backline as Dani Carvajal, Rudiger, Alaba and Militao are injured.

“We are in total emergency situation. Alaba, Rudiger, Carvajal, Militao…You think I wouldn’t like to use Valverde in midfield? Tchouameni in midfield? Or Carvajal? Militao and Alaba? Of course I would like it. We have to continue with what we have,” stated Carlo Ancelotti on press conference.

Following a series of injuries, Jacobo Ramon and Raul Asencio have been called up to reinforce the first team, as Real Madrid’s defensive backline has been severely impacted. However, Carlo Ancelotti has frequently relied on alternative solutions, deploying players like Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde as makeshift center-backs. Despite not being natural defenders, their elite-level experience makes them a more reliable option.

Real Madrid faces season-defining games amid ongoing crisis

Real Madrid is set to face one of their toughest challenges of the season in just four days, as they take on Manchester City in the Champions League knockout stage without their first-choice defensive unit. Despite their depleted squad, Real Madrid have repeatedly demonstrated their ability to rise to the occasion in high-stakes moments.

Their experience in the competition makes them a constant threat, capable of delivering surprises at any time. You can never give up on Real Madrid because their experience in the competition makes them very dangerous and they can surprise at any time.

“Reaching 100 goals is an important achievement and it means a lot to me to enter the club’s history,” Vinicius said in an interview with Real Madrid TV. “I arrived here as a young player at 18 years old with many dreams. I never imagined scoring so many goals in such a short time. Making it into the club’s history is no easy feat, given the many legendary players who have passed through here.”

The winger then spoke specifically about Ronaldo, the club’s all-time top scorer. “Cristiano scored 451 goals—more than games played—and I’ve had the privilege of watching nearly all of them. I’ve been following him since I was a kid, and he’s always been an idol to me,” the winger continued. “To reach a milestone alongside him, as well as other great players, is very important to me.”

However, Vinicius acknowledged the considerable distance between his current tally and Ronaldo’s legendary total. “I’m still far from reaching that figure,” he said. “But I hope to score many more goals and get closer to him… Cristiano marked an era at this club, and I hope to follow in his footsteps.”

Can Vinicius surpass Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal record?

It took Vinicius seven seasons to reach 100 goals for Real Madrid—a feat Cristiano Ronaldo achieved in just over two seasons. However, the comparison carries a different context: Ronaldo arrived in Spain already as one of the world’s best players and a superstar at Manchester United, while Vinicius was a raw teenager with limited experience at Flamengo.

In his first three seasons in Madrid, Vini had a limited impact, with inconsistent performances. However, since the 2021-22 season, the Brazilian has found his rhythm, consistently surpassing 20 goals per year. If he can maintain or even improve upon this trajectory, it is not out of the question that he could eventually catch up to Ronaldo in the long term.

Currently 350 goals shy of Ronaldo’s mark, if Vinicius maintains an average of 25 goals per season, he would need approximately 14 years to surpass Ronaldo as Real Madrid’s all-time leading scorer. By that time, the Brazilian star would be 38 years old, a feasible age given the longevity of some of the sport’s greatest players today.

Vinicius’ admiration for Real Madrid legends

Beyond Cristiano Ronaldo, Vinicius Junior also took time to acknowledge other Real Madrid legends. “Only 23 players in the history of this club have scored 100 goals, and now I’m among them, alongside one of my idols: Ronaldo,” he said, referring to the Brazilian forward who dazzled at the club between 2002 and 2007. “He has always given me advice on how to score and improve my finishing.”

Vini also praised his former teammate Karim Benzema, now playing for Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia. “Karim helped me a lot during our time together,” he said. “While I’ve tried to help him, he’s done so much more for me on the pitch, helping me to score more goals and provide more assists. He’s a true legend of this club. He often messages me, encouraging me to score more goals and follow his path.”

Finally, the Brazilian winger shared his admiration for Alfredo Di Stefano, one of Real Madrid’s most iconic figures. “Di Stefano has a phrase that means a lot to us,” he explained. “It’s written in the Bernabeu, and it says that no player is as good as all of them together. Seeing those words before we step onto the pitch gives us a lot of strength and motivation to win.”