Vinícius responded to the criticism in the best possible way. Isn’t it time to pay our respects to the Brazilian magician?

Vinícius was man of the match after contributing two goals and an assist in the demolition of Liverpool at his own stadium. Has he finally earned the respect he deserves from the footballing world?

Football fans had a football feast yesterday

Real Madrid fans had another magical night in Liverpool yesterday in the Champions League. The kings of Europe may have been two goals down after 14 minutes, but after that there was a carousel that Anfield has never seen before.

The team’s veterans in particular put in impressive performances. Karim Benzema returned from injury at the best possible moment and contributed two goals to the 2-5 demolition of Liverpool. Another phenomenal performance was then scored by Luka Modric and both men received a standing ovation from the whole Anfield.

However, it was Brazilian magician Vinícius Jr. who particularly impressed with his phenomenal performance and responded to the chase in the best possible way. Indeed, he has often been the target of racist abuse and threats in Spain in recent months.

Vinícius became the man of the match who made history

The agile winger certainly showed yesterday that football looks simple and beautiful when he plays it. First, in the 21st minute, he turned around in the opponents’ penalty area and, surrounded by six players, silenced the home fans for the first time.

After another quarter of an hour, he showed the mentality of a winner. He finished a seemingly lost ball and forced a mistake from goalkeeper Alisson Becker, which meant a second goal for the smiling Brazilian and the equaliser.

His successful dribble shortly after the change of sides then proved decisive, resulting in a direct free-kick on the edge of the sixteen. This was played bravuraly by Luka Modric, who planted the winning goal on the head of stopper Militao.

But Vinícius continued his big game, assisting Benzema’s fifth goal from a counter-attack. He was thus rightly named man of the match and contributed to many records during a magical night.

Isn’t it time to pay our respects to the Brazilian magician?

His performance made football legends remembered. He became the youngest man since Johan Cruyff to score twice at Anfield in European Cups. Moreover, he made it to the Champions League for the third time in a row, a feat only the legendary Raúl managed at his age at the Spanish big club in 1999.

His teammate Benzema also made his mark on the nightmares of Liverpool fans, becoming the player who scored the most goals in European Cups in the history of the British team with six strikes. Beware, however, it is Vinícius who has one less hit and it is believed that, with a favourable draw, he can surpass his more experienced attacking colleague.

“This is Real Madrid, ” Vini said in post-match interviews, delighted with his team’s magical result. “I want to stay at the club and continue making history. This is my home,” he expressed his gratitude to the Spanish giant who invested more than 60 million euros in him at an early age.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti also rejoiced at the Brazilian striker’s form. “Vinícius is currently the player with the biggest influence on the pitch in the whole football world,” the Italian strategist praised his star.

Will Real Madrid’s young star finally get the respect of the football community? The days of Ronaldinho and Zidane running around the pitch and entertaining the world with their technical finesse are long gone and football has become more contact-based. Isn’t it time to encourage young footballers to feel comfortable on the pitch so that they can entertain spectators of the world’s most popular sport?

Source: Champions League, Goal, Premier Sport, Twitter