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News of Vinícius Junior's dip in form has made its way to the NFL. Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson urged the Brazilian star to "stay off social media" and tune out the "external noise" during his difficult stretch of performances.
The Bernabéu played host to an NFL game in the Spanish capital for the second year running, this time serving as the venue for the Falcons' matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Robinson, whose side fell to a 34–17 loss, counts Vinícius Jr among his close friends and offered some valuable words of wisdom for the Real Madrid forward.
"I would tell him right now to stay focused, not to worry about the external noise," Robinson said. "When you start listening to these things, you start to believe what people have to say about you."
Vinícius Jr has faced a torrent of criticism this season following a series of underwhelming displays. The winger has managed just one goal across 12 appearances and has shown little of the creative spark or self-assurance that has characterized his time in Madrid.
Adding to his woes is how convincingly the team performed during his four-game red card ban; Los Blancos claimed all four La Liga victories, including a potentially title-defining El Clásico, with Yan Diomande firmly establishing himself on the left wing.
"He should stay off social media, leave all that behind," Robinson added. "He should trust his instincts for his career, which I think is going to be wonderful regardless of whether it has its ups and downs. We all have those moments, those weeks."
Vinícius Jr No Longer 'Untouchable' at Real Madrid
Real Madrid made headlines this summer by handing Vinícius Jr a lucrative contract extension tying the Brazil international to the club through 2032. The agreement came after 19 months of drawn-out negotiations and was finally sealed once reigning Premier League champions Arsenal entered the picture as potential suitors.
Yet nothing has gone according to plan since Vinícius Jr put pen to paper. Wasteful finishing, predictable attacking play, and a lack of defensive effort have defined his 2025–26 campaign.
The rise of Diomande, who has contributed to eight goals in his last 10 outings, has only highlighted Vinícius Jr's struggles further. For the first time since Kylian Mbappé's arrival, Los Blancos appear to be a well-oiled attacking machine — and it's all happening without the No. 7 on the field.
AS reports that Vinícius Jr is "fully aware" he has lost his place in the starting XI and acknowledges he is no longer "untouchable." The key difference between this season and the last, however, lies in his relationship with José Mourinho.
The Portuguese tactician is "standing by" Vinícius Jr and is determined to help the winger rediscover his best form. That said, Mourinho remains pragmatic — with Real Madrid having strung together eight straight wins for the first time since 2022, he has little incentive to tamper with a formula that is clearly working.
The International Break Comes at the Perfect Time
On a brighter note for Vinícius Jr, he now has the chance to step away from the Spanish capital and link up with Brazil for the November international break. The 26-year-old produced his finest football under Carlo Ancelotti, and Real Madrid will be hoping the iconic Italian coach can once again work his magic.
Similar expectations surrounded the September-October international window, but they ultimately went unfulfilled. Vinícius Jr managed just one goal — a penalty — across three appearances for the Seleção, and was so ineffective against India that he was substituted at halftime.
Two more international friendlies await Brazil, this time against Japan and Singapore. Vinícius Jr will be desperate to impress in both fixtures, if only to rebuild his confidence and quiet the critics, even if just briefly.
Even so, it may not be enough to dislodge Diomande, who looks far more at home on Mourinho's left flank than on the right. With Real Madrid unbeaten in the Champions League group stage and back in contention for the La Liga title, there is simply no compelling reason to bring Vinícius Jr back into a lineup that is thriving without him.