Criticizing Vinicius Junior, Lothar Matthaus: “He Has a Very Big Ego”
Harsh criticism must be faced by Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior. German football legend Lothar Matthaus believes that Real Madrid has experienced significant improvement under the guidance of Jose Mourinho, coinciding with the absence of Vinicius Junior.
Vinicius Junior was indeed sidelined during Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory over Barcelona in El Clasico. Vinicius is known to still be serving a two-match La Liga suspension before returning to action on the pitch.
In an interview with the German publication BILD, Lothar Matthaus expressed his belief that Vinicius is actually hindering Real Madrid’s progress. The German legend and winner of the 1990 Ballon d’Or delivered extraordinary criticism against Vinicius and questioned his attitude.
“I am curious to see what Real Madrid will do with Vinicius Junior. The team functions better without him,” Matthaus stated.
Matthaus further opined that Vinicius Junior is a footballer with a booming ego. Usually, this kind of ego can bring a positive impact to a club, but in Vinicius’s case, his character actually serves as an obstacle to the team’s development.
“He is a troublemaker. He is difficult to manage, and he is not good for the team. His overall public image damages his reputation,” he added.
Matthaus also welcomed Vinicius’s 17th-place finish in the 2026 Ballon d’Or rankings, comparing the Brazilian player’s behavior to that of Bayern Munich star Harry Kane, who ultimately won the award.
“I am glad that he is not in the top ten for the Ballon d’Or. Kane is a true gentleman, and Vinicius is not,” he explained.
Later, Matthaus delivered his harshest criticism, expressing his view that Real Madrid can be far more dangerous when Vinicius is not in the team. He believes this is due to the players’ high dedication to protecting Real Madrid’s reputation.
“The problem at Real Madrid is Vinicius Junior. When he is not there, the team functions better. They are more disciplined, everyone supports one another, and they are united.”
“He has a very big ego, and his entire body language damages the team and the club.”
The former Germany captain urged Real Madrid’s manager, Jose Mourinho, to take decisive action regarding Vinicius—though Matthaus is well aware that Vinicius still possesses good individual quality and can perform optimally when given the appropriate role.
“I hope, for the sake of Real Madrid, the president finally takes action, either by reprimanding him or telling Mourinho to bench him,” he said.
