Three Bold Moves Vinicius Jr Must Make to Reignite His Real Madrid Magic

It's been a difficult stretch of months for Vinícius Jr.

The Brazilian has openly acknowledged that Brazil's dismal round of 16 elimination against Norway at the World Cup was a painful blow that subsequently dented his self-belief.

By the first international break, Vinícius Jr had found the net just once for Real Madrid in the 2026–27 campaign—a figure that has drawn considerable scrutiny given the enormous contract extension the winger recently penned following more than a year of drawn-out negotiations and reported interest from Arsenal.

While Madrid boss José Mourinho has shielded Vinícius from the Bernabéu's jeering faithful, he has conceded that the superstar, who finished runner-up in the 2024 Ballon d'Or, "isn't performing at his peak."

The Madrid derby loss represented a low point for both Los Blancos and Vinícius individually, with the forward delivering a flat performance before being hauled off before the hour mark.

A spell away from the Madrid spotlight on international duty has done little to provide the refresh the 26-year-old requires, with his display in the friendly victory over India in Kolkata drawing criticism. Vinícius completed just seven of 13 passes, attempted no dribbles and squandered a clear-cut chance against a side ranked 138th in the world by FIFA before being withdrawn at the interval.

The forward's only goal across three matches this international window came from the penalty spot—the fourth in a 4–2 triumph over Australia—and he appears a far cry from the devastating match-winner fans have come to expect.

How Can Real Madrid Get Vinícius Jr Back on Track?

Remarkably, a player who has netted 129 goals—including two in Champions League finals—is in danger of becoming a headache for Real Madrid.

The Vinícius Jr saga has already emerged as one of the defining storylines of Madrid's season, with the club sitting six points adrift of Barcelona in La Liga and at risk of enduring a third consecutive campaign without silverware.

Madrid face a critical run of fixtures with the opening Clásico of the season approaching on Oct. 25, and will require all of their key players firing on all cylinders to compete across every competition this term.

Managing an off-colour superstar like Vinícius represents one of the earliest significant challenges for Mourinho since his return. Does the 63-year-old, once celebrated for his man-management prowess, still possess the tools to unlock the best from his squad?

Adapt the Formation

One of the persistent issues for Madrid since Kylian Mbappé's arrival is the overlapping territory he and Vinícius occupy on the field.

L'Equipe published a striking graphic following the Madrid derby illustrating the average positions of all Madrid players, with Mbappé and Vinícius essentially occupying the same zone.

The core problem is that Mbappé is a centre-forward who gravitates toward the left flank rather than holding a central position, which inevitably causes the two players to frequently clash—and not productively.

Mourinho has built his 4-2-3-1 system around Mbappé as the focal point and it has yielded results, with the Frenchman netting seven goals in seven La Liga appearances so far in 2026–27. Nevertheless, it has partly stifled Vinícius's effectiveness.

No manager has cracked the code yet, but some tactical adjustments could allow both players to thrive without getting in each other's way. What that solution would actually look like, however, remains unclear.

Make Him Feel Special

Vinícius has always been a streaky performer rather than a steady scoring presence and has excelled when positioned as the undisputed focal point of the attack.

Before Mbappé's arrival, he flourished as the standout star in the 2023–24 Champions League-winning side, relied upon to conjure those decisive moments of brilliance and basking in the adoration of the Bernabéu when he delivered.

The contract saga appears to have eroded the Brazilian's standing among Madrid's notoriously demanding supporters, who have booed and whistled at him repeatedly this season as punishment for both prolonging his renewal discussions and enduring a dip in form.

Back in April, Álvaro Arbeloa praised Vinícius Jr for "turning the whistles into applause" after he responded with a brilliant solo goal in a victory over Alavés. Yet the version of the player on display this season looks far less capable of responding to adversity in the same manner.

Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti handed Vinícius Jr penalty-taking duties against Australia to help restore his confidence and urged supporters to show patience during the forward's barren run.

With three further home fixtures before El Clásico, a period of goodwill from the stands could prove enormously valuable in helping Vinícius Jr rediscover his best form.

Give Him a Break

The other straightforward option available to Mourinho is to drop Vinícius Jr to the bench and temporarily remove him from the spotlight.

With record acquisition Yan Diomande pressing for a starting berth and Arda Güler in scintillating form, Madrid have viable alternatives, and it is Vinícius's reputation rather than his recent contributions that have kept him in the starting eleven so far this season.

Healthy rivalry with Diomande could be the spark the Brazilian needs, but it is an extremely delicate balancing act for obvious reasons.

Vinícius Jr notoriously shouted "it's better if I leave" after being substituted by Xabi Alonso during last season's Clásico, and the fallout from that outburst lingered until the manager's departure in January.

Mourinho carries far greater dressing-room experience than Alonso, but has not always demonstrated the most subtle touch when handling the fragile egos of struggling stars.

Ultimately, the nature of the bond between player and manager may well determine what kind of season Vinícius Jr goes on to have.