Vinicius Junior returned to cause trouble for Manchester City, continuing his decisive performance at the Etihad Stadium with a defiant explanation for his goal celebration.
After opening the scoring with a penalty, the Brazilian striker made a “crying” gesture towards the home fans. The action was a direct response to the mockery he had received after not winning the Ballon d’Or in 2024.
The second leg of the Champions League round of 16 saw the rivalry between Real Madrid and Manchester City reignite. With a 3-0 lead from the first leg, the Madrid side practically sealed their place in the knockout stages in the 22nd minute thanks to Vinicius’ goal.
After a chaotic sequence where Bernardo Silva was sent off for a deliberate handball over the goal line, the Brazilian took the penalty and scored.
His subsequent celebration, initially asking for silence from the fans and then imitating crying, immediately caused strong reactions from the home crowd.
It was a historic night for the striker, who has now been involved in eight goals against Manchester City, a record surpassed only by Lionel Messi (9) in the history of this competition.
After the match, Vinicius clarified that his actions were not a general lack of respect, but a directed response to the treatment he had received during Real Madrid’s previous visit to Manchester.
“The last time we came here, the Manchester City fans were making fun of me,” he explained, referring to banners mocking his second place behind Rodri in the 2024 Ballon d’Or.
“I wasn’t showing any disrespect to the City fans, but it was a way of showing them myself,” the Brazilian said.