Vinicius Jr fires back at Man City fans over 'Stop Crying Your Heart Out' banner with pointed social media post following Real Madrid's emphatic Champions League win

Prior to the first leg at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City supporters unveiled a banner featuring midfielder Rodri kissing the Ballon d'Or trophy with the lyrics "Stop Crying Your Heart Out," referencing the famous Oasis song. The message was a pointed dig at Vinicius, who was overlooked for the prestigious Ballon d'Or award last October in favour of the Spaniard. The decision to snub the Brazilian did not sit well with Real Madrid, prompting both Vinicius and the club’s delegation to boycott the ceremony in Paris.

Vinicius had the final say on the pitch, playing a pivotal role in Madrid’s dramatic 3-2 comeback victory at the Etihad. The Spanish giants twice came from behind to equalize against City, before Jude Bellingham sealed the win with a last-gasp strike in stoppage time.

"Whenever the opposition fans do things like that, it only gives me more strength to perform at my best - and I think I showed that today," Vinicius said.

While many saw the banner as a direct dig at the Real Madrid winger, those responsible for organising it later clarified that it was more of a statement directed at Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.

Real Madrid secured their place in the Champions League round of 16 with a convincing 3-1 victory at the Santiago Bernabéu in the second leg, completing a 6-3 aggregate win over City. Following Madrid’s progression, Vinicius wasted no time taking a jab at City fans on social media. The 23-year-old posted "Okay, okay, okay" on X (formerly Twitter), accompanied by a crying emoji—a clear reference to the taunts he received before the tie.

Adding to the online banter, Vinicius’ former club Flamengo also chimed in with their own message of support. They wrote: "Congrats on making it to the next round, @vinijr! Stop crying your heart out 😉❤️🖤"

With Manchester City now out of the way, Vinicius and Real Madrid continue their quest for another Champions League trophy. The Brazilian is chasing his third European crown in four years, having already scored in two finals - against Liverpool in 2022 and Borussia Dortmund in 2023. Madrid’s next challenge in the tournament will come in the round of 16, where they will face either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen.