Stop Crying your heart out" was the message on a banner at one end of the Etihad Stadium alongside a photograph of Rodri kissing the Ballon d'Or. A cruel message that pointed directly at Vinicius Junior after he did not attend the gala in Paris. It was the first leg of the playoff between Manchester City and Real Madrid... and Vini kept the offence to himself.

But the message from the stands did not stop there and, during the match, they dedicated a chant to the Brazilian: "Where is the Ballon d'Or?", they asked ironically. Vinicius' response that night was the same as always: to point to the patch with the 15 Champions League titles won by Real Madrid. It was the first leg of the Champions League playoffs, and Madrid would defeat City 2-3 with two assists from the Brazilian... but without completing his revenge. He was missing something more. And No.7 knew that sooner or later his chance would come.

🚨 GOAL | VINÍCIUS JÚNIOR makes it FOUR for REAL MADRID!

MANCHESTER CITY 0-4 REAL MADRID (Agg: 0-4)

pic.twitter.com/GgiEo9YaS9

— Football Scope (@FootScopeX) March 17, 2026

Celebration with a message

"I see it, but whenever opposing fans do things it gives me more strength to have a great game and here I have done it. They know our history, everything we do in this competition. It's the fifth time we've come here, it's always very cold and we have to keep this line," said Vinicius, who took note before reaching the round of 16.

A mistake by Bernardo Silva, who instinctively stuck out his arm, gave the Brazilian the chance to take his revenge. It was a clear penalty and the No.7 was once again on the penalty spot. In the first leg, Donnarumma guessed the shot and Real Madrid missed the chance to make it 4-0. Vinicius Junior shot to the goalkeeper's left, but the Italian read his intentions well. At the Etihad, the Brazilian again went for the same side, but this time with a different outcome. Into the net and 1-0 on the scoreboard.

The Brazilian challenged the crowd with his gaze, sat on the advertising hoarding and waited for all his teammates to arrive to celebrate the important goal. Then he stood up and completed his revenge. He looked at the back where last season the banner was and made a gesture of crying.