Vinicius Junior is determined to help Kylian Mbappe win the Liga Golden Boot, with the Real Madrid star also reflecting on his Ballon d’Or snub.
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Frenchman adjusting to central striking berthBrazilian wants to see him finish top scorerSouth American over Golden Ball disappointmentFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The Brazil international has become a talismanic presence at Santiago Bernabeu, registering over 100 goals for the Blancos while helping them to three domestic titles and a couple of Champions League crowns. He is so important to the cause that Mbappe had to change position when arriving in the Spanish capital.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Vinicius' presence on the left wing means that World Cup winner Mbappe is operating as a central striker. It took him a while to adjust to the demands of that role after heading to Madrid, but is now up to 19 goals for the season – with 12 of those coming in the Spanish top-flight.
WHAT VINICIUS JR SAID
Mbappe sits four efforts behind Barcelona frontman Robert Lewandowski in the top scorer stakes, but Vinicius has told of collective efforts to win the Pichichi Trophy: “We [Vinicius, Mbappe and Rodrygo] are the three forwards, we have the obligation to score goals, give assists, and the truth is that we’re really happy with Kylian.
“The beginnings are always tough, but he has adapted well, and Kylian is such a great player that even while adapting, he’s scored a lot of goals. Rodrygo and I are going to do everything we can to make him the top scorer in all competitions, because he came here for that.”
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Vinicius' 24 goals last season landed La Liga and Champions League honours, but he was still pipped to the 2024 Ballon d’Or by Manchester City midfielder and Euro 2024 winner Rodri. The 24-year-old South American added on that disappointment: “I always say that my biggest goal is to help my team, to be able to score goals, make assists, be at my best level, because if I’m like that I can help all my team-mates and take Madrid to the highest level, which is always my biggest goal.
“Individual awards are of course important, but… We can’t talk so much, it’s not the vote that people expected, but we have to keep going… Rodrygo, Kylian, Jude [Bellingham], to do great things.”