Since the 2024 Ballon d’Or snub, Vinicius Junior has not quite hit top gear, and now Real Madrid’s patience is wearing dangerously thin.

Since the heartbreak of the 2024 Ballon d’Or snub, Vinicius Junior has not quite returned to the electrifying form that once made him untouchable. The Brazilian winger’s numbers remain respectable: 53 matches, 22 goals and 14 assists last season, but they fall short of the standard he set for himself and numbers that Real Madrid demand from their marquee forward.

More troubling is the inconsistency that has seeped into his game, a flaw that contributed to Madrid’s trophyless campaign and now threatens to derail an expensive project built around him, Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham.

From Ballon d’Or heartbreak to World Cup hangover

Vinicius Junior’s dip did not begin this season. After finishing second in the 2024 Ballon d’Or voting, many expected him to channel that disappointment into another gear. Instead, the 2025/26 campaign saw flashes of brilliance offset by long stretches of quiet influence.

He remained Real Madrid’s most dangerous outlet in transition, but his decision-making in the final third grew erratic, and his end product varied wildly from match to match. The World Cup in North America only intensified the scrutiny.

Vinicius was Brazil’s standout performer for much of the tournament, scoring four goals, yet he came under fire for not taking a crucial penalty in the defeat to Norway in the round of 16.

The criticism lingered. Speaking after a friendly win over Australia, , “Losing a World Cup is hard and difficult to accept, and the comeback is never easy…I need some confidence right now.”

That lack of confidence has carried over to club football, where he has managed just one goal in eight outings for Madrid this season.

The conspiracy theory break (yes, really)

As performances dipped, so did the tone of the discourse. In Brazil, a bizarre conspiracy theory began circulating online: that the Vinicius who returned after the World Cup was not the same player.

Some claimed he had been “replaced” following jaw surgery, with wild suggestions involving the CIA, the Rothschilds, and even reptilian aliens abducting him during the tournament. Others pointed to perceived changes in his appearance and the absence of certain thigh tattoos in training footage as “proof”.

It is, of course, nonsense. Vinicius Junior’s camp and Real Madrid have dismissed the claims as senseless fake news. But the fact that such stories gained traction says something about how far the narrative around him has shifted, from generational talent to a player whose every misstep is dissected for hidden meaning.

Rock bottom against India

If there was a moment that crystallised the concern, it came in Brazil’s friendly against India, a side ranked 138th in the world. Vinicius started but looked sluggish, off the pace and unable to beat his man with the ease that once defined his game.

He failed to register a goal or assist in a 4-0 win and was among Brazil’s least effective players on the night. Real Madrid fans were blunt about his poor performances, as one fan wrote:

“Vinicius struggling against INDIA. We have truly reached rockbottom man.”

For a club that tolerates no excuses, such displays against inferior opposition are unacceptable. real Madrid’s hierarchy is growing anxious. Reports suggest some board members would prefer to sell Vinicius. The message is clear: patience is wearing thin.

The Jose Mourinho factor and the big three project

When Florentino Perez brought Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid, the plan was simple: Vinicius, Mbappe, and Jude Bellingham would form a triumvirate capable of dominating Europe for years, just like Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, and Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2010s. It has not worked as intended.

The trio has rarely looked in sync, and the Merengues went without a major trophy last season. In a bid to reset, Perez recalled Jose Mourinho, hoping his man-management and tactical discipline could unlock their potential.

Mourinho has publicly defended Vinicius amid Bernabeu whistles but has also conceded the winger “isn’t at his best”. Behind the scenes, the Portuguese tactician is unimpressed and ready to drop him from the starting lineup, not to sell him, but to spark a reaction. Yet if even Mourinho cannot coax the best out of this attacking trio, questions will be asked about whether the project itself is flawed.

The likely casualty

Should the experiment fail, Perez will face a difficult decision. Mbappe is scoring regularly and is too valuable to move. Bellingham, arguably one of the best players in the world, is untouchable. That leaves Vinicius as the most expendable piece, especially given his current form and the interest from clubs like Arsenal.

For now, Real Madrid are giving him time. Carlo Ancelotti, speaking for Brazil, urged patience.

“He is not in his best moment…but even so he can make the difference.,” said the former Real Madrid manager

But time is a luxury Vinicius may not have for long. If he does not rediscover his rhythm soon, the club that once built its future around him could decide the future lies elsewhere.