SOCCER
Real Madrid's Vinicius outshining his idol Neymar at PSG
At Real Madrid, Vinicius has been performing well above Neymar at PSG this season, as reflected in their respective stats.
The definitive rise of Vinicius this season contrasts with Neymar’s stagnation, as is clearly evident from the two Brazilians’ respective numbers so far this term.
The stats show that 21-year-old Vinicious has been much more decisive than Neymar, 29, this campaign.
Vinicius has played 920 minutes over 12 games so far this year, completing 10, and has provided seven goals and five assists, translating to a goal participation rate of 1.0 per game.
Five of his goals have come in LaLiga, while the other two were in the Champions League.
After some difficult first few seasons, the young Brazilian has become unquestionably Madrid’s most decisive player and an indisputable starter for coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Neymar at PSG
Meanwhile, it is a very different situation for Neymar, who has been the subject of strong criticism in Paris, where he, Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi have yet to gel as an attacking trident.
His numbers are much weaker than Vinicius’. The 29-year-old striker has played eight full games for PSG this season, in which he has only managed to score one goal and give two assists. In total, Neymar has completed 675 minutes, which is indicative of the former Barcelona player’s susceptibility to injury.
Brazil national team
The improvement of one in contrast to the decline of the other has not been reflected in the Brazil national team.
During the last international break, Brazil coach Tite barely used Vinicius. He had 27 minutes against Venezuela and did not play against Colombia or Uruguay. Neymar, meanwhile, rested against Venezuela but was an indisputable starter in the games against Colombia and Uruguay, in which he scored one goal and gave two assists.
In any case, the signals that Vinicius is emitting go beyond Brazil. So powerful is his progression that he is now outshining one of his idols in Neymar.