According to a report by Madrid Universal on Friday November 6, 2026, Real Madrid legend Karim Benzema has sent a message of support to Vinicius Jr as the Brazilian forward faces increasing criticism over his recent performances.

The former teammates shared a special moment on social media, with Benzema publicly expressing his confidence in the 26-year-old during a difficult period at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Benzema posted a photograph of himself alongside Vinicius on Instagram, accompanied by the words, "N1 always". The Brazilian acknowledged the gesture by reposting the picture and message on his own account.

The show of support comes at a challenging time for Vinicius, whose inconsistency has attracted criticism from supporters. Despite receiving backing from Jose Mourinho and the club's hierarchy, his position in the starting lineup is facing increased competition.

Benzema's message carries particular significance because of the relationship they developed during their time together at Real Madrid. The French striker played an important role in Vinicius' development and helped him establish himself in the first team.

Meanwhile, Vinicius' four-match La Liga suspension has given other attacking players opportunities to impress. Real Madrid have won all three league matches played during his absence, defeating Sevilla 4-1, Barcelona 2-1 and Racing Santander 3-0.

Yan Diomande has particularly benefited from the Brazilian's absence. The attacker has delivered impressive performances, recording four goals and three assists in his last six appearances.

Nevertheless, Mourinho has continued defending Vinicius despite acknowledging that the forward is not currently performing at his best. The Portuguese manager previously reiterated his respect for the Brazilian following Real Madrid's 3-2 victory over AEK Athens.

However, Vinicius must now prove his importance to the team again. He faces the challenge of regaining his influence in an attacking setup that has produced encouraging results without him.