How Vinícius went from hero to villain for many Real Madrid fans

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Always at the center of things, Vinícius Júnior has gone from hero to villain for many Real Madrid fans.

The Brazilian soccer star has scored crucial goals to secure Champions League titles, gone close to winning the Ballon d’Or, and led a fight against racism in Spanish soccer — and all that by age 25.

And yet now, many Madrid supporters have turned their backs on him.

The crowd at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium jeered him loudly during Madrid’s last two homes games. His name was booed when it was announced before kickoff and when he touched the ball during a 2-0 win over Levante last weekend. And the boos were back at the start of the team's midweek game against Monaco in the Champions League.

His strong performance against Monaco, which included a goal and three assists, seemed to somewhat placate the crowd, with the jeering dissipating in the second half.

But with speculation ongoing that Saudi Arabia’s cash-filled league still wants Vinícius, the next few months could be make or break for the player, who is under contract through 2027.

When asked Friday if he expected Vinícius and the club to agree to a new contract extension soon, coach Álvaro Arbeloa said it was not for him to get involved.

“My job is to get the best out of my players, and for Vinícius to keep making history with this club,” said the former Madrid defender, who took over the team earlier this month.

Many Madrid supporters point at Vinícius as being one of the main reasons the highly-touted Xabi Alonso barely lasted half a season as Madrid’s coach.

Vinícius was reportedly not happy playing for the former Madrid midfielder, who substituted him more often than predecessor Carlos Ancelotti, under whom Vinícius had thrived. Vinícius apologized to Madrid's fans on social media after his public outburst on being substituted by Alonso in a game against Barcelona in October.

The speedy forward was also deemed responsible for his part in Madrid’s embarrassing Copa del Rey exit to a second-division side in the debut of Arbeloa.

Other players, including Jude Bellingham, have also been jeered, but Vinícius has born the brunt of the fans’ frustrations.

Madrid's superstar Kylian Mbappé made an impassioned defense of Vinícius before the Monaco match, asking fans to not focus their ire on him.

“Vini is a human being,” Mbappé said. “It’s normal to be affected when people speak negatively about you. Sometimes it’s fair, sometimes it’s not. Vini is a fantastic player. He’s an incredible man. ... We as a team have to protect him better so he’s not in this position of being alone against everyone."

Mbappé spoke after images emerged of the France striker apparently consoling Vinícius, who had his head in his hands when he heard the Bernabeu crowd whistling when his name was announced before the Levante game.

Vinícius arrived at Madrid at 18 on a transfer from Brazilian club Flamengo as a raw talent. He immediately impressed Madrid’s fans with his dribbling speed, but there were doubts he could make it as an elite player because of his ho-hum finishing touch.

The return of Ancelotti to lead Madrid in 2021 coincided with Vinícius having a breakthrough and turning into one of the top forwards in the game. Now he was finishing the slew of scoring chances that he created with his lightning-fast boots on Madrid’s left flank.

He scored the sole goal of the 2022 Champions League final against Liverpool. He also scored in a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund in the 2024 final to make it 15 European Cups for the all-whites.

During his rise into one of the game's biggest stars, Vinícius also became one of the leading voices against racism in Spain after he was repeatedly targeted by racist slurs by opposing fans during away games.

He demanded that La Liga officials do more to stop the abuse and earned praise for not backing away from taunting fans.

But Vinícius’s performance level has dipped since he came up short of winning the 2024 Ballon d’Or award just months after he won a second Champions League. Madrid felt its player had been jilted when he came in second to Manchester City midfielder Rodri and cancelled plans to attend the awards gala.

He also earned the reputation of a player who goads and trash talks opposing players, sometimes to the point where he could lose focus on the game, an attitude which sometimes tested the patience of his staff.

Regardless of what happens this season with Madrid, the biggest date on the calendar for Vinícius is the start of the World Cup in North America.

The pressure will be on him to lead a Brazil side now coached by Ancelotti and bearing the country's huge expectations to win a sixth title.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior reacts at the end of the Copa del Rey round of 16 soccer match between Albacete and Real Madrid, in Albacete, Spain, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior reacts during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Levante in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior reacts during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Levante in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An earlier start and hot weather were no worries for defending champion Madison Keys and her fellow American Jessica Pegula at the Australian Open on Saturday.

The ninth-seeded Keys beat Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-3 in the opening match on Rod Laver Arena, while sixth-seeded Pegula defeated Oksana Selekhmeteva 6-3, 6-2 in the first match at Margaret Court Arena.

Next up for the two Americans is a fourth-round encounter against each other.

There was an all-American encounter on Saturday as well — fourth-seeded Amanda Anisimova beat Peyton Stearns 6-1, 6-4 to advance to the round of 16.

Play began an hour earlier than initially scheduled on Day 7 because of the forecast of searing temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). Temperatures during the opening matches hadn't quite reached that level — only 32C (89F).

“I served well, and overall I give myself a full pat on the back for that,” Keys said of her win. “It gives yourself a boost when you can find your best tennis, trust your game and try to do the right things.”

Pegula said she didn't mind the hotter temperatures — “being a Floridian I was ready for it."

Keys said she expects a tough match against Pegula in the fourth round.

“Jess is such a great player, consistently doing well in every match she plays,” Keys said. “She is in every single match. It also makes it hard being friends.”

Keys and Pegula, along with several other WTA players, do a podcast called “The Player's Box” which chronicles everyday life on tour.

“ I think we have to do (one) before the match, so we’ll see how that goes,” Keys said, smiling.

Among the Americans who featured in early matches Saturday, Eliot Spizzirri had the toughest assignment. The 24-year-old Spizzirri, who spent part of his off-day Friday playing table tennis at a communal table in Garden Court at Melbourne Park, played two-time defending champion and second-seeded Jannik Sinner in the second match of the day on Rod Laver Arena.

Spizzirri has competed at all four Grand Slam tournaments, but has only reached the main draw at the U.S. Open and Australian Open, where the third round here is his furthest run and career-best result.

The night session at Rod Laver Arena featured 10-time champion Novak Djokovic as he continued his quest for a record 25th Grand Slam singles title. Djokovic plays Botic van de Zandschulp in the first of the evening matches.

The concluding match on the main court could have the capacity crowd guessing what fashion statement Naomi Osaka might make in her third-round encounter with Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis.

Osaka, who has two Australian Open titles among her four majors, walked onto the court wearing a wide-brim hat, a veil and holding a white parasol for her first-round match. For her second, Osaka didn't bother with the couture hat, veil and parasol but was still wearing a jellyfish-inspired dress and matching warmup jacket.

Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. plays a backhand return to compatriot Peyton Stearns during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Jessica Pegula, left, of the U.S. is congratulated by Oksana Selekhmeteva of Russia following their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Madison Keys, left, of the U.S. is congratulated by Karolina Pliskova, right, of the Czech Republic following their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Madison Keys of the U.S. waves after defeating Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic in their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Naomi Osaka of Japan walks onto court for her second round match against Sorana Cirstea of Romaniaat the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Ben Shelton of the U.S. reacts after defeating Dane Sweeny of Australia during their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Oksana Selekhmeteva of Russia serves to Jessica Pegula of the U.S. during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Jessica Pegula of the U.S. plays a backhand return to Oksana Selekhmeteva of Russia during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Madison Keys of the U.S. plays a forehand return to Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)