Benzema shows support for struggling Vinicius Junior at Real Madrid

Karim Benzema came to the defence of Vinicius Junior on Thursday on social media, posting a photo of the two players from their time together at Real Madrid, accompanied by the message “#1 forever” and the track Roi by Jonny Red playing in the background.

The gesture comes at a difficult time for the twenty-six-year-old Brazilian winger. Since his failure in the race for the 2024 Ballon d’Or, Vinicius Junior has struggled to rediscover his best form: he has scored just one goal in twelve matches across all competitions, with three assists. He was also suspended after pulling Nathan Saliba’s hair during a match against Villarreal, and regularly remains the target of racist abuse in Spain.

Benzema, 2022 Ballon d’Or winner, left Real Madrid in summer 2023 to join Saudi Arabia after fourteen seasons at the club. His message illustrates the strong bonds he has maintained with his former strike partner, whom he had helped develop during their years together in attack.

Yet tied to Real Madrid until 30 June 2032 following his contract extension signed on 6 August, Vinicius Junior’s future at the club continues to fuel speculation, his current form contrasting sharply with the standards that had made him one of the world’s best players over the past two seasons.