Vinícius Júnior, José Mourinho, Kylian Mbappé and Real Madrid
21 October 2026
Real Madrid coach José Mourinho and forward Kylian Mbappé have defended Vinícius Júnior after the Brazilian was whistled by sections of the home crowd during Madrid’s 4-1 Champions League victory over RB Leipzig. Vinícius has gone nine matches without scoring and continues to struggle for form.
Vinícius was replaced by Yan Diomande in the 70th minute after failing to score, although Mourinho praised his defensive contribution and tactical discipline. Mbappé urged the winger to remain confident and patient. The Brazilian has recorded one goal and three assists in 11 appearances this season, according to ESPN. He is also serving a four-match La Liga suspension and will miss the upcoming Clásico against Barcelona.