What it's like to face Vinicius Junior - as told by his opponents (2024)

How do you stop Vinicius Junior? Many have asked themselves the question, many have prepared as best they can, and many have failed.

The Real Madrid winger has been in scintillating form this season, scoring 22 times and providing 19 assists in all competitions according to Opta. Only Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe have more goal involvements across Europe’s top five leagues.

The 22-year-old Brazil international is also the most-fouled player in Europe’s top five leagues with 117 fouls won — eight more than Lazio’s Mattia Zaccagni in second place — showing the lengths opponents will go to in a bid to neutralise him.

But it is about much more than just the stats with Vinicius Jr. The Athletic spoke to several full-backs who have come up against him to find out what that experience is like. They highlighted his pace, his decision-making and how one approach does not always work.

Manchester City defenders, take note. This is what it is like to play against Vinicius Jr, told by those who have suffered before.

Aritz Elustondo, Real Sociedad right-back who has faced Vinicius Jr six times, including a 2-0 win at the Bernabeu in January 2019 and a goalless draw earlier this season

“Defending Vinicius has to do with how the team defends and there are times when you have to jump into pressure and other times when you should hold off.

“It’s true that it’s better to be close and make him uncomfortable. You take responsibility and try to concentrate as much as possible on keeping him from getting on the ball. But there are times when you can’t even be close.

“My first thought is always to try to take the ball from him, but there are times when you have to foul him because depending on his speed and the distance from the goal, he can quickly create a goalscoring opportunity. In the end, there are times when you have to take risks and make that foul, but you try to take the ball away from him.

* Stats correct before Monday’s games

“A lot of times help comes from the central defender if he cuts inside. And then in a counter-attack, the central midfielder helps you. But there will be times when he even gets away from the two defenders in a two-on-one.

“Even when teams are in a low block, he is capable of unbalancing them with his speed. You try to make him uncomfortable, to be close, to make sure he doesn’t receive the ball, but there are many times when he starts running behind you at 30km/h and it’s very difficult to catch him.

“Before playing against Madrid, our video analysis would show how they often group on the wing, with six or seven players sometimes and with (Karim) Benzema playing a lot of one-twos with Vinicius Jr. But there are times when, even if you’ve learnt the theory, they still get past you because of things you can’t control.

“Every time you face him, whether it’s a win or a draw, you suffer a lot. You try to do your best, but with the speed he has and how good a player he is, it’s very difficult.”

Jorge Miramon, Leganes right-back who faced Vinicius Jr six times when playing for Levante, including a 1-0 win in February 2020 and a 2-1 victory in January 2021

“When you have Vinicius on the wing it’s a permanent problem — he’s always getting in the way. You almost prefer the full-back, (Eduardo) Camavinga or (Ferland) Mendy to face you.

“You have to give him a bit of space and back off a bit. You have to leave him one-on-one, you have to let him fight that duel.

“His decision-making wasn’t good when I played against him and I used to see not much technique in his dribbling, but he has improved. Now he has that pause, he gets to areas where he didn’t before.

“He’s very, very powerful and to that power he adds mentality. He doesn’t stop trying. Even if he misses, he’s still looking for the next dribble.

“In one match we played at the Bernabeu, the ball fell to Casemiro, who hit a brutal pass into space behind me that left the goal on a plate. You think you could be further back, but then you leave him space on the outside. It’s difficult.”

Carlos Akapo, San Jose Earthquakes right-back who faced Vinicius Jr three times when playing for Cadiz, including a 1-0 win away at Madrid in October 2020

“I didn’t prepare for that game very thoroughly. We all know the qualities Vini has, what he’s like. You don’t have to prepare for that kind of match, but to go in with the mentality that it’s Real Madrid and knowing the kind of match it will be. Above all, you have to be mentally prepared.

“At the beginning of the game, I struggled a little bit but I caught up with him as the minutes went by. It’s a little bit of a distance until you get the hang of it. Scary is not the word, but you do have a bit of respect at the beginning. As the minutes go by, you start to get used to it.

“From a tactical point of view, one key is that when Vinicius goes forward he goes forward very well, but, like any winger, his weak point is a little more the defensive issue. Tactically that can work against him because he goes up a lot and is very sloppy at the back.

“But for me, Vinicius is one of the best in the world today. And one-on-one, nobody comes close.”

Yukhym Konoplya, Shakhtar Donetsk right-back who faced Vinicius Jr twice in the Champions League group stages in October, including a 1-1 draw in Warsaw

“You can look at his stats this season and last season — he is one of the most dangerous wingers on the planet. He runs with the ball using both feet well and with a lot of power.

“You need to adapt to different situations. I have to push him if he turns towards me, but there are also times when you need to give him space, to not get too close so he doesn’t have a chance to run past me.

“I swapped shirts after our first game at the Bernabeu and told him I was going to be better prepared for the second leg, but then he was a substitute.

“What surprised me the most was how he drives with the ball, he never seemed to lose it in difficult situations.

“First of all, you have to be mentally prepared to face a player like that, then you have to prepare your body. And you have to trust your team-mates, who can always save your back. Everyone has to help to contain him.”

Ivan Fresneda, Real Valladolid right-back who has faced Vinicius Jr twice this season and who impressed in a 2-0 defeat at his side’s Estadio Jose Zorrilla in December

“You can’t give him a lot of space but you can’t be glued to him either because in the end he is someone with a lot of running in him, he has a lot of speed and is very explosive. With a change of pace, he can destroy your defence.

“He is one of the players that forces you to be more aware, but at the same time, you can’t only look out for him because Madrid have other players like (Luka) Modric, Karim and Rodrygo, who play a lot inside and force you to keep an eye on them. In the end, it’s difficult to cover them because they play a lot between the lines.

“Last month, when they beat us 6-0, Rodrygo, who is spectacular, destroyed us because you didn’t know whether to jump him and leave Vinicius behind. I think we failed a little bit.

“I got on well with him — he was very friendly, very nice to me because in the end I’m nobody and it was all very healthy.

“Any defender who likes to be offensive has to be very cautious because, yes, you can go up and have your space, but you have to always watch out. At the back, you have a greyhound who can catch you at any moment. He is a world-class player; there is no side of his game that is underrated.”

(Top photos: Manuel Reino Berengui/DeFodi Images via Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)

Guillermo began his career covering Real Madrid and the sports industry for Diario AS. He later moved to London and became AS and Cadena Ser correspondent. He has since returned to Madrid and joins us at The Athletic where he will deliver Real Madrid news, interviews, stories, and more.