According to reports, Vinicius Jr. shone brightly against Athletic Bilbao, earning praise from Carlo Ancelotti and once again winning the hearts of the Bernabéu fans. While Kylian Mbappe faced whistles from the stands, Real Madrid’s number 7 was the undisputed star of the team.

Vinicius Jr., with five more years of experience at Real Madrid compared to Mbappe, understands the Bernabéu atmosphere better. His relationship with the fans, though sometimes turbulent, is more appealing than Mbappe’s perceived coldness due to his natural passion and energy.

Mbappe, once a dream player for the fans, now faces whistles of disapproval. In the 20th minute, when his image appeared on the Bernabéu’s 360-degree screen, whistles were heard—not widespread but noticeable, similar to reactions during the match against Arsenal. Five goalless games and a meaningless red card against Alaves have left the demanding Real Madrid fans, who do not tolerate arrogance, disappointed with him.

The match against Athletic Bilbao was crucial. After the failure against Arsenal and ahead of the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona, which holds significant importance in Real’s season, the fans were ready to judge.

At the Bernabéu, fan support is measured by the level of applause, not polls. When the lineup was announced, Vinicius Jr.’s name received less applause compared to Luka Modric and Jude Bellingham, but his performance left everyone in awe. Vinicius was energetic from the start and, until Fede Valverde’s spectacular goal in extra time, was almost the only player applauded. Ancelotti also praised his defensive efforts, saying, “His commitment is extraordinary.”

Vinicius Jr.’s focus and determination were evident throughout the game. Not only did he score a goal (which was disallowed for a marginal offside), but he also created six goal-scoring opportunities—more than any other player. He delivered eight crosses into the box (on par with Modric) and completed five successful dribbles in dangerous areas, more than the combined dribbles of his teammates (Rodrygo with 2, Camavinga and Brahim with 1 each). After scoring, Vinicius reacted differently than usual—he didn’t celebrate and returned to the center with a serious expression, even though his goal saved Real from a tough match.

In any case, this dynamism signaled Vinicius Jr.’s return to his ideal form, something that was also hinted at in the match against Arsenal (1-2), unlike his weaker performances against Valencia or at the Emirates, where he was less impactful.

From the first minute against Athletic Bilbao, Vinicius Jr. was determined not to let fingers point at him if La Liga slipped away. In contrast, Mbappe is at a stage Karim Benzema experienced during his cold days: the goals and dazzling moves are there, but the passion that thrills the Bernabéu is missing.

This is the basic lesson at Real Madrid that every new player must learn. Vinicius Jr. has learned it well, but Mbappe must grasp it quickly to succeed in Madrid.