Real Madrid forward faces harsh reality after being outshone by Mbappe in Austria | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s only pre-season match ended with a convincing 4-0 win over WSG Tirol, but Vinicius Jr.’s performance became the main talking point.

The Brazilian endured another difficult outing, adding to what has been a challenging summer.

First came criticism for his role in the Club World Cup semi-final loss to PSG, where he was singled out as one of the culprits.

Then came tensions over his contract situation, with the club reportedly unhappy that he had not honoured an April verbal agreement to renew, even though no formal deal was signed.

For now, he continues to occupy his preferred left wing, and Xabi Alonso appears intent on keeping him there while working on an “explosive” version of Kylian Mbappe.

The problem, however, is that while fans hoped Mbappe would quickly form a lethal partnership with Vinicius, the Frenchman has shown better chemistry with almost every other teammate.

Mbappe outshines Vinicius in Austria

Mbappe scored a brace vs WSG Tirol. (Photo by Jan Hetfleisch/Getty Images)

Against WSG Tirol, Mbappe was Madrid’s standout performer, scoring twice and leading the attack with authority. The contrast with Vinicius was stark.

When Mbappe first arrived in Madrid, it was the Brazilian who helped him adapt, but now Vinicius seems to have lost his status in the squad’s hierarchy.

In Austria, Vinicius failed to score or assist. While his pressing did contribute to one of the goals, he also lost possession with a poor pass that gave Tirol a dangerous opportunity.

Multiple dribble attempts failed, and his link-up with teammates, including Huijsen, was ineffective. On the hour mark, he was replaced by Rodrygo, who promptly scored after combining with Mbappe.

The expected partnership between Vinicius and Mbappe remains a work in progress. Teammates are actively seeking Mbappe’s movement, while Vinicius often finds himself isolated.

From the touchline, Alonso repeatedly called his name, signalling that the winger will need to turn pressure into performance quickly if he wants to reclaim his influence in the team.