Brazilian footballer offers brutally honest take on Real Madrid sensation – “Far from Neymar, Ronaldo” | OneFootball

Vinicius Jr. is slowly gaining his form back, but he is still far from the footballer who was a Ballon d’Or favourite just years ago.

While it is true that he continues to be one of the team’s biggest difference-makers on the field, his image in the sport has gone down for a number of reasons.

Kylian Mbappe’s arrival did indeed dent some of his importance as a poster boy, but beyond that, his own antics on the field have led some former followers to turn against him. After all, his charisma has been debatable from the very beginning.

Compatriot’s opinion

Speaking to the media in a recent interview, former Brazilian player Joao Miranda opened up on Vinicius Jr. and what he thought of the player’s comparisons with some of the greatest in the game.

“For me, Vinicius has a lot of quality, but he is still far from Neymar, Messi, Cristiano,” he began.

Elaborating on what the Real Madrid star does well to adapt to today’s game, Miranda had some positive words for the winger.

What is Vinicius lacking to get to Neymar’s level? (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

“Football, at the moment, is the best we have, because for me football has changed a lot. It has a lot of physicality and Vinicius has the technical part and the physical part.”

However, he did insist that Vinicius had an ingredient missing that still kept him away from the same stature as Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr., and others.

“But he is not like Messi and Neymar. He lacks something. I don’t know if it is charisma with people.”

Finally, the former Atletico Madrid player was asked about racism in La Liga, especially given his experience in the league as a Brazilian.

“Here in Spain and in Europe, not anywhere, I have not experienced racism, because I had my head only to play football. What people said to me was only a distraction to take the focus away from the game.”

“When you’re going to play a game, if you let the fans take the focus away from the game, it changes the way you play a little, it takes away your concentration a little,” he added.

Source: Mundo Deportivo