Vinícius Júnior: one goal, three assists and a manager waiting for more
Vinícius Júnior has one goal and three assists for Real Madrid this season, and José Mourinho wants more. Here is why he is still a top-10 name in football.
Vinícius Júnior is on this list for his name, not his numbers, and the numbers are the story. He is still one of the most followed players in football, but he has one goal this season.
The numbers
Vavel's 2026/27 table has Vinícius on 1 goal and 3 assists in 11 appearances, 801 minutes, for Real Madrid. ESPN's La Liga page shows 3 assists in 8 league matches and does not list him in its goals table, which includes players on three. Compare that with Kylian Mbappé's 11 league goals on the same team.
World Soccer Talk quoted Real Madrid manager José Mourinho on 14 September: "The best version of Vinicius Junior will come when he starts scoring goals." Vavel's table still has him on one goal.
Madrid are third in La Liga on ESPN's table, three points behind Barcelona and four behind Atlético Madrid. Vavel says the club announced on 6 August that Vinícius had extended his contract until 2032. IBTimes had him on 58 million Instagram followers in February.
What nobody else does
Vinícius is a left winger whose game is a straight run at a full-back. Defenders know what is coming and still lose the duel. The three assists are what that run produces when it does not end in a shot.
What it has not been this season is a source of goals. Goals are the part Mourinho is asking for.
What's next
Turning runs into finishes. The club has committed to him until 2032, so there is time. The pressure is on the next few matches to show a Vinícius who scores as well as he beats his man.
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