Vinícius Jr's hair‑pulling red card eclipses his goal against Villarreal

Así, Vinícius Jr entered the LaLiga clash with Villarreal as a substitute, only to experience a dramatic swing: he netted a second‑half strike that put Real Madrid ahead, then minutes later was dismissed for pulling Nathan Saliba’s hair, erasing the goal and sparking chaos at the Bernabéu.

Goal and impact

Vinícius Jr was introduced in the 50th minute of added time, joining Mbappé and Diomande in the attack. Álvaro Carreras supplied the ball on a swift counter‑attack, allowing the Brazilian to finish the move and make it 2‑0 for the visitors. The strike briefly lifted the mood of the Real Madrid supporters.

Fans erupted in the stands, and even José Mourinho was seen celebrating in the corner of the pitch. The moment dominated Futbol headlines and was quickly shared as a preferred source on Google, highlighting the impact of the newcomer.

Red card and fallout

The jubilation ended when VAR, prompted by a protest from Villarreal, reviewed the incident. Referee Carlos del Cerro identified that Vinícius had grabbed Saliba’s hair just before the forward’s run, resulting in a straight red card. The decision also nullified the goal, reverting the score.

VAR drama changes Real Madrid's lead against Villarreal

Vinícius attempted to confront the referee, shouting as the official approached, but his teammates restrained him. The Bernabéu crowd fell silent as the red card was shown, and the Real Madrid players gathered in disbelief.

This dismissal marks the Brazilian Vinícius Júnior’s third official expulsion. The first came on 21 May 2023 against Valencia CF at Mestalla, the second on 3 January 2025, also versus Valencia, and the latest on 10 October against Villarreal at the Bernabéu, as reported by AFP.

Con the incident, doubts about Vinícius Jr’s discipline resurface, adding pressure to his already precarious standing at Real Madrid. The club now faces the challenge of managing his talent while curbing repeat offences.