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Vinicius Junior

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BDO Power Rankings: Yamal slides while Kane keeps cooking

With the Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo duopoly presumably disappearing into the rearview mirror, the battle for the Ballon d'Or hasn't felt so open for the best part of 20 years, with countless players now beginning each campaign believing they have a chance of claiming the most prestigious individual prize football has to offer. Ousmane Dembele emerged from a career plagued with inconsistencies to win the Golden Ball in 2025, and he was among a crowded field of contenders as the 2026 race got going.

Vinicius Junior

“Embarrassing and confusing”: Vinicius Jr. faces fierce criticism Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr. has found himself on the receiving end of sharp public criticism in recent days. T

Roy Keane is unlikely to be a big fan of Vinicius Junior any time soon. Following Real Madrid’s defeat in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich, the Premier League legend has once again lashed out at the Brazilian. Keane, never one to mince words, delivered his verdict with typical bluntness. In his eyes, Vinicius—who had been targeted by critics for his flamboyant style and perceived lack of end product—once again failed to justify the hype surrounding him. The former Manchester United captain argued that the young forward’s performance lacked the necessary steel and discipline required at the highest level, suggesting that flashy skills alone do not win trophies. For Keane, Real Madrid’s 2-1 loss in Munich exposed the fragility of a side that relies too heavily on individual brilliance rather than collective effort. He pointed to Vinicius as a symbol of that imbalance, insisting that the player’s tendency to dribble into blind alleys handed Bayer

FBL-EUR-C1-REAL MADRID-BAYERN MUNICH

A former Real Madrid star has delivered a scathing assessment of Vinícius Jr., describing the Brazilian winger as “awful” and admitting that watching him play “makes me angry”. The

Harsh criticism of the Brazilian star The Brazilian star is facing a backlash after a series of underwhelming performances. Fans and pundits alike have questioned his work rate, decision-making, and apparent lack of discipline on the pitch. While critics acknowledge his undoubted talent, they argue that his recent form falls well below the standards expected of a player of his calibre. Social-media platforms have been flooded with comments calling for the forward to be dropped from the starting line-up, with many suggesting that his attitude could be hindering the team’s overall progress. Coaches, however, have so far defended their decision to keep him in the side, insisting that he remains a vital part of the squad’s long-term strategy. In the short term, the player himself appears unfazed by the scrutiny, continuing to train with the same intensity that has defined his career to date. Whether the criticism will prompt a change in approach—or whether it will simply fuel his determina

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Kompany praises Vinicius after Bayern's UCL win over Real

Vincent Kompany hailed the character of Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior after his Bayern Munich side secured a vital 2-1 Champions League victory at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Belgian manager insisted that protecting unique talents like the Brazilian forward remains more important than any result, especially following recent alleged racial abuse aimed at the Madrid star.

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Mbappe keeps Madrid alive as Vini frustrates & Carreras flops

Real Madrid were made to rue missed opportunities despite being outplayed by Bayern Munich as they suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie. Vinicius Jr missed chances in buckets, but after Kylian Mbappe did pull a goal back, Madrid will certainly still feel they are in with a shot of advancing to the semis.

Frequently asked questions

Declan Rice primarily plays as a defensive midfielder for Arsenal, either as a single pivot or in a double-pivot formation. More recently, though, he has been used in a bit more advanced position as an #8, thanks to his progressive ball-carrying and goalscoring abilities.

Declan Rice was born in Kingston upon Thames in the Greater London region in England.

The English international dons the No. 41 jersey at his current club Arsenal. In an episode of The Overlap in 2022, where he had a chat with Gary Neville, Rice explained that 41 was a number given to his by his kit man at his previous club, West Ham United, and that he continues to wear it because he's superstitious.

The Arsenal man is 1.88m (6ft 2in) tall, and is one of the best defensive midfielders in the world at the moment.

Declan Rice weighs 80kg (176 lbs) and is a physically dominant force in midfield.

Declan Rice spent the majority of his youth career at Chelsea (2006-2013), before spending two years in West Ham United's youth setup.

Declan Rice and long-term girlfriend Lauren Fryer welcomed their first child, son Jude, in August 2022.

Declan Rice hasn't exchanged vows yet, but he has been dating childhood sweetheart Lauren Fryer since 2016.