Champions League

How Álvaro Arbeloa brought Vinícius Jr. back to his best, and why Real Madrid are benefiting

Vinícius has gone from a scoring slump to nine goals in 16 games, underlining his revival with a brace at the Etihad.

JAVIER GANDUL

Update: Mar 18th, 2026 02:31 EDT

It all comes down to one line: “This Vinícius, this is my Vinícius.” It’s the kind of quote that needs no context. It says everything.

Even in Madrid’s 2-1 Champions League win over City Manchester, where Vinícius Jr. wasn’t at his sharpest in front of goal, it didn’t matter. He no longer needs clinical finishing alone to strike fear into opponents. In some ways, that makes him even more dangerous. The electricity is back, the kind that freezes defenders in place. He looks like himself again, the relentless force who keeps coming, keeps pushing, keeps creating.

And in this resurgence, Álvaro Arbeloa deserves real credit. Reviving Vinícius could end up being one of the defining achievements of his season, no matter how it finishes.

From drought to dominance

The turnaround has been dramatic.

In 34 games under Xabi Alonso, Vinícius scored just seven goals. He managed only one at the Club World Cup, against Salzburg, then added five in LaLiga and one in the Spanish Super Cup against Barcelona. That’s a scoring rate of just 0.20 goals per game, far below expectations for a global star.

Under Arbeloa, though, something clicked.

A mix of trust, responsibility and a bigger leadership role, especially with Kylian Mbappé out, has transformed his game. The result: nine goals in 16 appearances. Adjusted for a suspension that kept him out against Valencia, that pace jumps even higher. His scoring average? Now 0.56 goals per game.

How Álvaro Arbeloa brought Vinícius Jr. back to his best, and why Real Madrid are benefiting

Building momentum in Manchester

Step by step, he’s grown into this version of himself. His latest performance came in Manchester. He wasn’t perfect in front of goal, and he knew it. In fact, he joked about it afterward: “I missed a lot! But today we didn’t need that many!”

Still, that self-criticism says plenty. On a night when he scored twice, he was focused on the chances he didn’t take. That’s the mentality of a player generating constant danger.

Vinícius finished the game with seven shots, three on target, and completed 90% of his passes in the final third. He was everywhere.

Big moments, big personality

His first goal came from the penalty spot. Despite the memory of a miss in the first leg, he stepped up again.

“Today I asked Valverde if he wanted to take it,” Vinícius said on the field. “He told me no and gave me full confidence, which is what a captain should do.”

He buried it, then celebrated by silencing a crowd that had mocked him last season over the Ballon d’Or. There’s a pattern here. Provoking Vinícius rarely ends well.

The second goal was pure class. A composed left-footed finish off a perfect ball from Aurélien Tchouaméni. Subtle, elegant, decisive. Knockout blow. Against Manchester City, he now has four goals and five assists.

The formula: trust and freedom

Arbeloa’s belief never wavered.

Vinícius scored just once in his first five games under him, struggling against teams like Albacete, Levante, Villarreal and Benfica. But he remained untouchable in the lineup, not just starting but playing full 90-minute games.

Then came the explosion.

Six goals in his next five matches. Like ketchup finally pouring out of the bottle. And just like that, he became decisive again, especially in a tie where many had already written Real Madrid off. He assisted in the first leg against City, then delivered a brace in the return.

Vinícius is back. He’s dancing again.

Relentless, fearless, unstoppable

The key has been simple: freedom and support. With Mbappé returning, their partnership is starting to take shape. Along the way, Vinícius has also built chemistry with Brahim Díaz and Gonzalo, showing adaptability and leadership.

But above all, it’s about that electricity.

Even on nights when the finishing isn’t perfect, he keeps going. He attacks, retreats, and attacks again. Relentless. Persistent. Driven by an unbreakable competitive fire. That’s what defines him.

And now, the fans are singing it again at the Bernabéu: “This Vinícius, this is my Vinícius.”