Real: is this finally the return of the great Vinicius?

After several months of lacklustre performances, Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior is back on form under coach Alvaro Arbeloa. After scoring twice from the penalty spot against Real Sociedad (4-1) on Saturday in La Liga, can the Brazilian return to his best?

Will 2026 be the year Vinicius Junior returns to the spotlight? After a first half of the season marked by tensions with his former coach Xabi Alonso and the Santiago Bernabéu crowd, the Real Madrid winger is clearly on the rise.

Since Alvaro Arbeloa’s appointment on 12 January, the Brazilian international has regained a central role in the Merengue’s game plan.

Without Mbappé, Vinicius stepped up

In the absence of Kylian Mbappé, who was rested due to knee pain, all eyes were on the Auriverde against Real Sociedad (4-1) on Saturday in La Liga. Vinicius was particularly lively, giving young Jon Aramburu a torrid time as he constantly outpaced the Real Madrid player. Always provocative, the 25-year-old talent won and converted two penalties to score a brace.

He was also involved in Federico Valverde’s goal and played a part in almost all of Real Madrid’s best moves. “I’ve been seeing a great Vinicius for a month now, not just in this match. He’s been playing at a very high level in every game and has been decisive. For me, his impact goes beyond the statistics; he is capable of influencing the course of a match. He is a big-hearted lad and an excellent teammate. We are lucky to have him,” Arbeloa insisted at a press conference.

Statistics on the rise…

And indeed, Vinicius’ transformation under the Spanish coach is striking. In 27 matches in all competitions under Xabi Alonso, the Brazilian had racked up six goals and eight assists. In seven matches under Arbeloa, he has scored four goals and provided three assists. Over the past month, he has been involved in one goal per match (compared to 0.51 previously). His performance is finally living up to his status.