Lothar Matthäus criticises Vinícius

Lothar Matthäus, the German football legend, has renewed his attack on Vinícius Júnior, the Real Madrid winger, criticising his behaviour on the pitch and his impact on the team, and calling for the club to take a stance against him.

The German newspaper "Bild" reported comments from Matthäus, who previously criticized the Brazilian player in December 2025 and last April, saying: "I am curious to see what Real Madrid will do with Vinícius; the team performs better in his absence, he is a problematic player and very whiny, and his public image does not serve the team."

A Bayern Munich legend compared Vinícius and Harry Kane, the recent Ballon d'Or winner, stating: "This is what sets Harry Kane apart; he understands everything and handles matters calmly and thoughtfully. He is a polite man, while Vinícius is not. Fortunately, Bayern Munich does not have a player like him, nor does FC Barcelona."

Matheus added: "Real Madrid's problem is Vinícius; when he is absent, the team becomes more disciplined and cohesive, and the players cooperate with each other. However, when he is present, it becomes about ego; he has a big arrogance, and this harms the team and the club."

The statement concluded with: "I hope, for the sake of Real Madrid, that the president takes a stance, whether by reprimanding him or leaving him on the bench at Mourinho's decision."