Matthäus: "Vinicius is a great player, but he always provokes opponents and then just complains and cries when they tackle him"

T.E (Elbotola)

07 April 2026at14:17

Former German player Lothar Matthaus criticized the behavior of Brazilian player Vinicius Junior and his club Real Madrid ahead of their anticipated match against Bayern Munich in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.

Matthaus told German channel Sky Sport: "Vinicius is a great player, but he always provokes his opponents, and when they tackle him, he just complains and cries."

He continued, referencing Real Madrid: "When Rodri was chosen to win the Ballon d'Or instead of one of their players, they said: 'This is unfair. One of our players should have won it. We will boycott the ceremony.'"

He concluded by saying: "This attitude is not right. Competitors, other teams, and other players must be respected."

Real Madrid is scheduled to host Bayern Munich today, Tuesday, at 20:00 (GMT+1) at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Q&A

What criticism did Lothar Matthäus make about Vinicius Junior?

Lothar Matthäus criticized Vinicius Junior's behavior, stating the Brazilian star provokes opponents and then complains excessively after tackles. He described Vinicius as a great player, but one who frequently cries when challenged on the field.

How did Lothar Matthäus extend his criticism to Real Madrid?

Lothar Matthäus extended his criticism to Real Madrid, citing their reaction to Rodri winning the Ballon d'Or as an example of an "unfair" attitude. He believes the club showed disrespect towards competitors and other teams.

What is the immediate context for Matthäus's comments regarding Real Madrid?

Matthäus's comments come just before Real Madrid's anticipated Champions League quarter-final match against Bayern Munich. He made these remarks ahead of the first leg, emphasizing the need for respect among competitors.

Vinícius

Real Madrid

FC Bayern Munich

UEFA Champions League