Former World Cup winner Marcel Desailly has defended Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior, saying the controversy surrounding the Brazilian is driven largely by the perception people have of him.
Vinicius has often been at the centre of debate due to his on-field celebrations and confrontations with opponents. His latest controversy came during Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League clash against Benfica, where he reported alleged racist remarks from Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni.
Speaking in Madrid following the announcement of nominees for the 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards, Desailly said the criticism directed at Vinicius often stems from how the player is viewed rather than his actions.
“The problem is the perception people have of Vinicius,” Desailly said to Marca.
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“I’m happy to see Vinicius playing and to see Mourinho has changed his approach to the issue a bit. He can celebrate; he did the last time he scored. There’s no problem. The problem is the perception people have of Vinicius.”
The former France and Chelsea defender added that incidents of abuse inside stadiums remain unacceptable and require stronger responses from the football community.
“We have to put an end to that and accept the fact that some things need to change because it’s unacceptable, inside a stadium, when these things happen,” he said.
Despite the controversies, Vinicius continues to deliver on the pitch. The Brazilian has developed into one of Real Madrid’s most influential attackers and finished runner-up to Rodri in the 2024 Ballon d’Or voting.
This season he has recorded 13 goals and 11 assists in 35 appearances across competitions, underlining his importance to Los Blancos.
Photo: Alvaro Medranda/Icon Sport via Getty Images
