Vinicius Junior has revealed that his tearful celebration directed at Manchester City supporters during Tuesday night's Champions League clash was intended as a statement rather than an insult.
The Brazilian forward explained his gesture was a direct response to being ridiculed by City fans following his defeat to Rodri in the 2024 Ballon d'Or vote.
"The last time I came to Man City, they were sort of making fun of me, saying maybe I was crying about the Ballon d'Or," he said.
"I wasn't disrespecting the City fans [today], it was just a way to sort of prove myself to the Manchester City fanbase."
The controversial award ceremony saw no Real Madrid representatives in attendance after the club learned of the outcome beforehand.
The animosity between Vinicius and the City faithful dates back to last year's fixture at the Etihad Stadium, where home supporters unveiled a large Oasis-inspired banner depicting Rodri embracing the prestigious trophy.
Rodri had claimed football's most coveted individual honour some 18 months prior, with the Paris ceremony notably lacking any Madrid delegation.
EL AURA DE VINICIUS JR EN ETIHAD. 🥶7️⃣ pic.twitter.com/wl5dLRxGvu https://t.co/pBxbDvU9Bd
— MT2 (@madrid_total2) March 17, 2026
On Tuesday evening, the 24-year-old exacted his retribution by performing a mocking crying gesture after converting from the penalty spot.
The spot-kick, which effectively ended the contest as a competitive affair, came following Bernardo Silva's dismissal for a deliberate handball offence that left City facing an uphill battle with ten men.
Pep Guardiola declined to criticise his captain for the sending-off that proved so costly to his side's European ambitions.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Football clubs with the most Champions League titles | GETTY"Ten against 11, it's almost impossible," the City manager acknowledged after watching his team's Champions League hopes evaporate.
Despite the crushing defeat, Guardiola struck a defiant tone about what lies ahead for his squad.
"Next season will be bright, we will be back," he declared.
The Catalan coach reflected philosophically on the nature of elite competition, describing sport as "a challenge" while praising his players' character.
"We have an extraordinary team and extraordinary group of players," Guardiola added, noting that supporters present understood how narrow the margins had been.
Guardiola, who has 12 months remaining on his current deal, addressed speculation surrounding his position at the club with characteristic defiance.
Vinicius Jr scored twice as Real Madrid beat Man City
|GETTY
"Everyone wants to fire me, why? One day I will come here and say, 'bye, bye guys'," he remarked.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid's interim manager Alvaro Arbeloa heaped praise on goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois for his heroics during City's early bombardment of the visitors' goal.
"Maybe Thibaut is the best in history," Arbeloa said. "We are so happy to have him with us."
The Spanish coach also backed Trent Alexander-Arnold to receive an England call-up on Friday, noting the defender's growing integration with his teammates and exceptional quality.