Vinicius Jr has set a new record for assists in the UEFA Champions League knockout stages, passing Lionel Messi even though Real Madrid lost to Bayern Munich in a dramatic quarter-final.

It was said that the Brazilian helped Kylian Mbappe score during the 4-3 loss in the second leg on April 15. This meant that the Spanish giants were out of the tournament with a 6-4 aggregate score.

HITC says that Vinicius now has 13 assists in 41 Champions League knockout games, which is more than Messi’s 12 in 77 games. He is still behind Cristiano Ronaldo, who leads the standings with 15 assists in 85 knockout games.

The winger has already won two Champions League trophies with Real Madrid. Messi has four titles, while Ronaldo has five. Four of those titles are with Madrid and one is with Manchester United. If Vinicius keeps playing the way he is now, many people think he will break Ronaldo’s record.

Stanisic Asks Referee About Camavinga’s Red Card

Late in the game, there was a lot of controversy surrounding the tie. After Madrid lost a player, Josip Stanisic said that Eduardo Camavinga should not have been sent off and criticized referee Slavko Vincic.

Madrid was ahead 3-2 in the 62nd minute when coach Alvaro Arbeloa brought in Camavinga to try to calm things down. The midfielder got his first yellow card for a late tackle and his second yellow card in the 86th minute for taking too long to take a free kick.

Luis Diaz and Michael Olise scored to give Bayern the lead and send the German team through.

Stanisic told MadridZone, “I don’t think the referee knew he had already given Camavinga a yellow card.” He wouldn’t have shown the second yellow if he had known. It seems like referees have lost some of their ability to handle important games.

The red card is the same as last season’s quarter-final first leg against Arsenal, when Camavinga was also sent off in a 3-0 loss. Madrid lost that tie by a score of 5–1.

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Neymar will lead Brazil in the 2026 World Cup, according to legend Cafu, who believes the striker has more natural talent than Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Neymar is in a class of his own among contemporary greats, according to the former right-back and two-time World Cup champion, who did not hold back in his evaluation.

“I think Neymar is better than Lionel Messi. While Messi may have a different level of dedication, Neymar is the most dedicated member of this generation. He is better than Kylian Mbappe, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Messi, Cafu told Gazeta Express.

Neymar’s technical advantage, according to Cafu, is the main distinction, as the Santos forward possesses a greater variety of skills than his contemporaries.

In a technical sense, he outperforms everyone. We can bring up Cristiano Ronaldo when discussing commitment, but let’s put that aside. “Neymar just has better quality available to him,” he contended.

Cafu suggested that Brazil has to construct around Neymar in the same manner that Argentina organized their team for Messi, drawing parallels with previous achievements.

Argentina won trophies when Lionel Messi was a member of the team. We assisted Ronaldinho and played for Ronaldo and Rivaldo in 2002. Neymar, on the other hand, had to bear the load alone because he was born into a generation without that support, he emphasized.

According to Cafu, a large portion of Neymar’s career has been characterized by burden.

He was solely responsible for the load for fifteen years. He said, “There are now players nearby who can finally assist him.

Additionally, he supported Carlo Ancelotti, the current manager of Brazil, in efficiently managing the team and the pressure around Neymar.

“The coach does a great job of handling pressure. Neymar’s skill is undeniable; even when he isn’t playing at his best, he wins the game. However, he stated that his attitude is crucial to the group.

Cafu emphasized Ancelotti’s strict commitment to discipline when recalling his time at AC Milan.

Ancelotti assembled the group and stated unequivocally, “If you don’t train, there’s no question, you won’t play,” in response to a player who wasn’t practicing. He disclosed that the squad grasped the message right away.

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