Vinicius Junior’s Red Card: How Many Times Has the Real Madrid Star Been Sent Off?

Vinicius Junior, sporting a new hairstyle, had a rather forgettable evening at Mestalla—a stadium where fans relish every opportunity to get under the Brazilian’s skin. Vinicius seemed to approach the occasion more than the game on Friday, which ultimately resulted in a red card for him, leaving Real Madrid in a precarious position against the side at the bottom of La Liga.

In the 79th minute of the game, with Madrid trailing 1-0—courtesy of a Hugo Duro goal—Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski said something to Vinicius, provoking him to use both hands to lightly shove the keeper on the back of his neck.

Dimitrievski made the most of it, and although referee César Soto Grado initially missed the incident, a VAR check deemed it a red-card offense.

A livid Vinicius had to be physically dragged into the tunnels to prevent any further escalation, which could have resulted in additional fines and suspension. Antonio Rüdiger ensured that didn’t happen, swiftly pulling Vinicius away from the scene as soon as the verdict was handed down.

Vinicius Junior Red Cards

Not a player known for being quiet and mellow on the pitch, Vinicius has been on La Liga referees’ naughty list for years. He’s not one to hold back or keep his thoughts to himself, which often lands him in trouble.

However, for someone who enjoys a verbal jab with referees and opposing players, he hasn’t received many red cards in his career.

Since joining Real Madrid in 2018, Vinicius has received only one red card. He did, however, pick up another while playing for Real Madrid Castilla, the club’s reserve team, during a 1-1 draw against Celta B in 2018.

In the 2022/23 season, Vinicius did get sent off during a game against Valencia at Mestalla, but later saw that get overturned.

Even during his time at Flamengo in Brazil, where he played 69 games before joining Real Madrid, Vinicius managed to avoid red cards entirely, though he did pick up nine yellow cards.

The 24-year-old’s overall disciplinary record, however, remains a concern for Real Madrid, who are keen to have him available for every game. During the 2022/23 season, he was shown 16 yellow cards—an average of one every 297 minutes played.

Although the number dropped to 11 in the 2023/24 season, this was primarily due to reduced playing time. His yellow card frequency actually increased to an average of one every 280 minutes.

Outcome of Real Madrid vs Valencia

After Vinicius’ sending off, it seemed as though Valencia would have an easy path to victory. However, Real Madrid aren’t called the comeback kings of Europe for nothing. Time and again, when they appear defeated, done, and dusted, they rise from the ashes to snatch victories—sometimes in ways many would deem undeserved.

Friday was no different. Vinicius’ dismissal appeared to ignite something within Real Madrid. Luka Modrić, who came on shortly after the incident, scored to level the game at 1-1, creating a tense atmosphere at Mestalla.

Valencia’s players began to look shaky and started making mistakes under pressure from Madrid’s relentless frontline. In the 95th minute, Dimitri Foulquier misplaced a pass straight into the path of Jude Bellingham, who calmly scored to secure a dramatic 2-1 victory for Real Madrid.

This win propelled Real Madrid to the top of the La Liga standings, two points ahead of Atlético Madrid, who have a game in hand, and five points clear of Barcelona in third.

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