Brazilian superstar Vinicius Junior (25) celebrated victory in his first match as captain of Real Madrid.
On the 27th (Korean time), Vinicius took the field as captain of Real Madrid for the first leg of the 2024-2025 Copa del Rey semifinals against Real Sociedad at the Reale Arena in San Sebastián, Spain.
On this day, Vinicius completed 84 minutes, achieving two effective shots but failed to meet expectations, successfully completing only one of five dribbles, resulting in a relatively low rating of 6.9.
However, it appears this match will not be forgotten by Vinicius. This was the first moment he was recognized as captain since joining Real Madrid at the age of 18 in 2018. Moreover, he led the team to a 1-0 victory with a decisive goal from his Brazilian junior Endrick in the 19th minute of the first half.
Vinicius shared a photo wearing the captain's armband on his social media, writing, "I am experiencing unforgettable moments at the club of my dreams." Retired player Toni Kroos also jokingly commented, "Now you can talk to the referee."
After the match, Vinicius remarked in an interview with the club's TV, "This is a truly special moment. Spending a long time here and finally being able to play as captain at 24 years old is a great source of pride for me and my family."
He continued, "Thinking of everything we have gone through to get here makes it even more meaningful, and we have reached the club of our dreams, able to make that dream a reality. I hope to continue this way for a long time."
Vinicius emphasized, "I am glad the team showed great performance. It is an indescribable feeling to reach the Copa del Rey semifinals as captain of one of the best clubs in the world."
He added, "Experiencing this moment firsthand is amazing. I never imagined it. In the next match, I will make my 300th appearance, and I am already aiming for 400 and 500. I want to make history at this club."
In particular, Vinicius noted, "This victory is very important. The team performed excellently, and we defended as the coach wanted. And Endrick scored a fantastic goal," displaying satisfaction with his teammates' performance.
Vinicius expressed, "I am maintaining my best condition of the season, and important matches are coming up. They are the matches we love the most," adding, "I want to finish the season by lifting as many trophies as possible."
According to ESPN, at the end of the first half, Vinicius reported that he heard boos directed at players including 'Raul Asensio, die' from the referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez.
As a result, a message was displayed on the scoreboard and through the speakers at the stadium stating, "There should be no racism, xenophobia, or narrow-minded jeers. Let’s respect the opponent and support the team."
Asensio is under investigation for allegedly sharing sexual videos featuring three former Real Madrid youth players in June 2023. The videos reportedly included two girls, one of whom was a minor.
Earlier this month, a court in the Canary Islands ruled that the investigation into Asensio's involvement in distributing sexual videos that included minors would continue.
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