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‘He came here for that’ – Vinicius Jr desperate to make Kylian Mbappe dream come true as Real Madrid superstar reflects on disappointing Ballon d’Or snub

Champions League

Brest

Real Madrid

<p>The Brazil international has become a talismanic presence at Santiago Bernabeu, registering over 100 goals for the Blancos while <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/vinicius-jnr-exclusive-real-madrid-champions-league-dreams-brazil-playing-cowboy-pepsi-advert/blt7080624cb92d9d68" target="_blank">helping them to three domestic titles and a couple of Champions League crowns</a>. He is so important to the cause that Mbappe had to change position when arriving in the Spanish capital.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Vinicius' presence on the left wing means that World Cup winner Mbappe is operating as a central striker. It <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/not-good-as-9-vinicius-junior-the-best-karim-benzema-tells-kylian-mbappe-forget-important-real-madrid-advice/blt946cdc1437d2b050" target="_blank">took him a while to adjust to the demands of that role</a> after heading to Madrid, but is now <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/best-centre-forward-world-kylian-mbappe-silences-left-wing-doubters-carlo-ancelotti-explains-what-makes-real-madrid-galactico-unique/blt5353e1dbbc50a780" target="_blank">up to 19 goals for the season</a> – with 12 of those coming in the Spanish top-flight.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Mbappe sits four efforts behind Barcelona frontman Robert Lewandowski in the top scorer stakes, but Vinicius has told <a href="https://tntsports.com.br/championsleague/EXCLUSIVO-Vini-Jr.-fala-sobre-futuro-no-Real-Madrid-e-possivel-ida-de-Neymar-ao-Santos-20250122-0032.html " target="_blank"><em>TNT Sports Brazil</em></a> of collective efforts to <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/need-this-pressure-kylian-mbappe-not-ruling-out-40-goal-debut-season-real-madrid-bam-moment-sparked-best-form/bltea208a19caedd624" target="_blank">win the Pichichi Trophy</a>: “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.</p><p>“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.”</p>

WHAT VINICIUS JR SAID

<p>Vinicius' 24 goals last season landed La Liga and Champions League honours, but he was still <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/rodri-responds-unfair-cristiano-ronaldo-ballon-d-or-claim-man-city-midfielder-revealing-surprise-vinicius-junior-comment-five-time-golden-ball-winner/blt90aeb6cdd09da37a" target="_blank">pipped to the 2024 Ballon d’Or by Manchester City midfielder and Euro 2024 winner Rodri</a>. The 24-year-old South American added on <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/ballon-d-or-winner-why-vinicius-jr-ignoring-golden-ball-talk-champions-league-final-real-madrid/blt6e577c5d13c04eae" target="_blank">that disappointment</a>: “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.</p><p>“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.”</p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>Real sit top of La Liga after 20 rounds of fixtures, with a two-point lead held over neighbours Atletico Madrid. Since suffering a 5-2 Super Cup defeat to Clasico rivals Barca, the Blancos have scored 14 goals through their last three outings in all competitions.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

‘He came here for that’ – Vinicius Jr desperate to make Kylian Mbappe dream come true as Real Madrid superstar reflects on disappointing Ballon d’Or snub | Goal.com

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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