Real Madrid is one of the most famous soccer teams in the world. They’ve won the UEFA Champions League a record 15 times and are known for having some of the best players in the game. But last season didn’t go the way they hoped. Even though they had a strong squad, they didn’t win a big trophy. One big reason was that their star winger, Vinicius Junior, wasn’t playing at his best.
From Star to Struggle
Vinicius Junior, a 24-year-old from Brazil, had a fantastic 2023-24 season. He was so good that people thought he could win the Ballon d’Or, which is an award for the best soccer player in the world. That year, he helped Real Madrid win both the Champions League and La Liga, Spain’s top soccer league.
But during the 2024-25 season, something changed. Vinicius didn’t score as many goals or create as many chances. As a result, Real Madrid finished second in La Liga, behind their biggest rivals, FC Barcelona. It was also the final season for their longtime coach Carlo Ancelotti, who had won many trophies with them.
A New Coach and a Fresh Start
Now, the team has a new coach: Xabi Alonso, a former Real Madrid and Spain midfielder who was known for his smart passing and leadership on the field. Alonso is excited to see Vinicius getting back to his best.
In Real Madrid’s recent match against Salzburg, a team from Austria, Vinicius was electric. He scored a goal and gave a beautiful backheel assist to teammate Fede Valverde. Real Madrid won the game 3-0, which helped them finish first in their Club World Cup group. That win also meant they didn’t have to play Manchester City in the next round—a big relief since City is considered one of the best teams in the world right now.
What Is the Club World Cup?
The FIFA Club World Cup is a tournament where the best clubs from each continent compete to become world champions. For example, the winner of the UEFA Champions League (Europe) plays against teams like the winner of the Copa Libertadores (South America) and others from Africa, Asia, North America, and Oceania.
Real Madrid is now set to face Juventus, a top Italian team, in the last-16 round. The game will take place in Orlando, Florida, and Madrid hopes to make it to the quarterfinals.
Mbappe Could Be Back Soon
Helping them in that mission might be another superstar: Kylian Mbappe. Mbappe joined Real Madrid last summer after a long time at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The 26-year-old French striker is one of the fastest players in the world and has already won a World Cup with France in 2018. He scored 43 goals in all competitions last season.
But Mbappe has been sick lately. He missed all three of Madrid’s group games because of acute gastroenteritis, a stomach illness that even sent him to the hospital. Luckily, he’s feeling better and has returned to training.
Alonso hopes Mbappe can play some minutes against Juventus—maybe coming off the bench. If he and Vinicius can work well together, Real Madrid’s attack will be incredibly dangerous.
Can Two Stars Share the Spotlight?
At first, Mbappe and Vinicius had trouble playing together. That’s because they both like to play on the left wing and cut inside to shoot with their right foot. But Alonso believes they can make it work. He says, “Vini from the outside, Kylian from the inside… it’s not a problem. There’s so much individual quality, but we also need the whole team to function.”
Last season under Ancelotti, Real Madrid often played with Vinicius, Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Rodrygo Goes all on the field at once. That gave them great attacking power, but it also made the team weaker on defense. That’s something Alonso wants to avoid.
“In my team, everyone defends,” said Alonso. “All 11 players have to help when we don’t have the ball.”
He was especially happy with Vinicius’ defensive effort against Salzburg. “Aside from the goal and assist, I liked that he worked hard, stayed focused, and helped the team defend,” Alonso added.
Contract Talks for Vinicius
Even as Vinicius returns to form, there’s something else going on behind the scenes—contract talks. His current deal with Real Madrid runs until 2027, but the club and the player are discussing an extension and better terms.
Vinicius says he wants to stay: “I hope I can stay here for many years. I’ve always said this is the club of my life. I’m very happy with the coach and the staff.”
Big Tests Coming Up
If Mbappe and Vinicius can connect and lead the team, Real Madrid will have a great chance to win the Club World Cup. After Juventus, they could face Borussia Dortmund (from Germany) or Monterrey (from Mexico) in the quarterfinals. That would be an exciting challenge for Alonso, who is still in the early days of his coaching journey at Madrid.
Soccer fans around the world will be watching to see if Real Madrid’s two biggest stars can shine together. If they do, the team might not only win the Club World Cup, but also get back on track to compete for La Liga and the Champions League again.
Fun Soccer Facts :
A soccer match is 90 minutes long, divided into two halves of 45 minutes.
Real Madrid was founded in 1902 and is one of the richest soccer clubs in the world.
The Ballon d’Or is given once a year to the best soccer player in the world.
Vinicius Junior wears jersey number 7 for Real Madrid, a number once worn by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Kylian Mbappe is famous for his lightning speed—he can run up to 36 km/h (about 22 mph)!
With Vinicius back in top shape and Mbappe ready to return, Real Madrid fans have plenty to be excited about. Let’s see if these two superstars can help bring more trophies to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium!
