Erling Haaland being one of the best football players on the planet is a certainty. The fact Kylian Mbappé is also on that list is not in doubt either. However, many question whether Vinicius is among that select group of young talents.
On the occasion of the Champions League semi-finals, the Brazilian will have two face-to-face encounters with Norwegian Haaland. The first one, at the Santiago Bernabeu, was largely won by the Real Madrid player. Another reason to keep him in mind in the debate for the throne in which it is so difficult to include him.
Vinicius scored a goal and was a real headache for his marker Kyle Walker, who congratulated him warmly at the end of the match for the battle they had fought. A stark contrast to what the winger experiences every weekend in La Liga, where he is constantly the target of aggression and harassment.
He has been one of the three best players in the world for much of the season, but he is used to having to prove twice or three times as much as the rest to get the same reward. That is why, after a campaign in which he has led Carlo Ancelotti's side, it was only after he played a huge part in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final that he had to be taken into account.
His goal was not enough to lift the 14th, nor the great Copa del Rey final he played in. There will always be an excuse to underestimate him. A very unfair double standard set by those who love him little and praise footballers of a much lower category.
Luckily, these circumstances do not worry Vinicius. He is calm in the knowledge that, while he triumphs in Europe, his critics and detractors witness his growth from the comfort of the sofa at home. He needs to do no more. He has the recognition of those he desires and remains focused on continuing to break down barriers. For the moment, he has already kicked down the door and has joined the ranks of the world's best.
