Vinicius: 77 goals and 42 cards in a Real Madrid shirt

Vinicius Jr. is undoubtedly one of the most talented players currently active in LaLiga and the Brazilian has bagged six goals in his last four games. This greatness contrasts with his volatile temperament and the winger has also been awarded a yellow card in each of the past four outings. Today at El Sadar, the Brazilian picked up his fifth yellow card and as a a result of the ensuing suspension, Vini will now not play for Madrid again until 9 April in the first leg of the Champions League against Manchester City.

In Pamplona on Saturday, the Brazilian offered another solid display and toyed with the Osasuna defence to bag the opener for Carlo Ancelotti’s men but also picked up a booking from Martínez Munuera as he pointed his finger at the official as a manner of protesting at a decision shortly before the interval.

Vini was once again too attentive to the supporters in the stands. He celebrated both goals with his hand to his ear as television cameras caught (totally unacceptable) chants of “Vinicius, die” (Vini muerete) from a small pocket of home fans. Even when he was substituted, Ancelotti and the staff had to guide the Brazilian’s departure to the bench to ensure there was no additional frisson between the player and Osasuna supporters.

Ancelotti was complimentary upon being asked about the Brazilian in the post game interview but also made reference to his temperament: “He is a decisive footballer, but the environmental pressure he has must control him a little more…”. A former Real Madrid coach, Bernd Schuster, was more explicit on Movistar+. “We have seen him start phenomenally, but then little things start to happen to him and he takes himself out of the game.”

Control

A great deal of the cards received by Vinicius are arguably avoidable. Three of his five bookings this season were for protesting with the referee or arguing with a rival player.

Last year he was suspended twice due to an accumulation of yellow cards. In total he saw 16 yellow cards, a team record for the 2022-23 campaign. In addition to his 77 goals in a Real Madrid jersey, the winger has accumulated 42 cards in total in his career with the Bernabeu side, 45 percent of them (19 cards) as a consequence of protesting, arguments with opponents or time wasting.