Lothar Matthäus has sharply criticized Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during a media appearance ahead of the Bundesliga weekend, labeling the Brazilian a “troublemaker” and claiming that the Spanish club functions better without him on the pitch. Speaking to reporters in Munich on Thursday, the 65-year-old argued that Vinicius’s ego and public image damage the team, pointing to recent results achieved during the winger’s suspension.

Lothar Matthäus Criticizes Vinicius Junior Ahead of Bundesliga Top Match

The remarks from Matthäus arrived just two days before Bayern Munich hosts Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga top match at the Allianz Arena on Saturday evening. Speaking at the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten in downtown Munich during a media round hosted by RTL and Sky, Matthäus turned his attention to European football outside Germany and delivered a blunt assessment of Vinicius Junior.

“He is a troublemaker, a bad sport. It is the way it is,” Matthäus said of the 26-year-old Brazilian. “And he does not do the team any good. His entire image on the outside. That is why I was glad that Vinicius Junior was not among the top ten for the Ballon d’Or.”

Comparing Vinicius Junior and Ballon d’Or Winner Harry Kane

Matthäus contrasted the Real Madrid forward with Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane, who recently claimed the Ballon d’Or. Praising the striker, Matthäus described him as a model professional who understands everything, takes time for everyone, and acts as a true gentleman.

“That is something that has distinguished Harry Kane: that he is also outwardly the one who ultimately has understanding for everything, takes time for everything, and is a gentleman. And Vinicius Junior is not that,” Matthäus stated.

While Kane secured top honors, Vinicius finished outside the top ten in voting. The Brazilian placed seventeenth in the 2025 rankings following a sixteenth-place finish in 2024.

Real Madrid’s Form Without Vinicius Junior in La Liga and Europe

To support his tactical critique, Matthäus pointed to Real Madrid’s recent performances in the absence of their suspended forward. Vinicius has been forced to watch from the sidelines following a suspension stemming from a fixture against Villarreal, keeping him out of domestic action in La Liga until November 7.

During that domestic ban, Real Madrid secured a 2-1 victory in the El Clásico against FC Barcelona. Matthäus also noted their performance in European competition, referencing a 4-3 victory in Rome. “Without him, Real functions better,” Matthäus said, challenging manager José Mourinho and club president Florentino Pérez to address the situation. “That is now José Mourinho’s job: what do I do now with Vinicius Junior? They won a Clásico against FC Barcelona for the first time in a few years and perform without him.”

While sidelined domestically, Vinicius has remained eligible for UEFA Champions League fixtures, featuring in matches against AS Roma and RB Leipzig during his suspension period.

Lothar Matthäus Calls for Action from Florentino Pérez and José Mourinho

Matthäus argued that the Spanish giants carry a distinct roster complication that rivals in Germany and Spain avoid. “Bayern Munich does not have something like that, thank God. Barcelona does not have that. Real Madrid has this problem. The problem of Real Madrid is called Vinicius Junior,” he said.

Matthäus urged club leadership to intervene, suggesting that even a fully fit Vinicius could spend time on the bench if his attitude fails to align with collective discipline. “I hope for the club that the president finds clear words about him, that he disciplines him or that Mourinho benches him sometimes,” Matthäus noted. “Because in my opinion, from a distance, he harms the team and the club.”

Frequently Asked Questions About Lothar Matthäus and Vinicius Junior

When did Lothar Matthäus make these comments about Vinicius Junior? Matthäus made the remarks on Thursday afternoon during a media round held at the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten in Munich ahead of the weekend Bundesliga fixture between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

Why is Vinicius Junior currently sidelined in domestic competition? The Brazilian forward is serving a suspension following an incident against Villarreal, resulting in a ban that runs in La Liga through November 7.

Where did Harry Kane and Vinicius Junior finish in recent Ballon d’Or voting? Harry Kane won the recent Ballon d’Or award. Vinicius Junior finished seventeenth in the voting after placing sixteenth the previous year.