Vinicius Junior may never return to his peak after falling short of the Ballon d'Or and facing setbacks at Real Madrid, according to Charlotte Lorgeré.
Vinicius's peak seen as past
Vinicius Junior is unlikely to return to the level he displayed two years ago, according to Charlotte Lorgeré. The former RC Lens player believes the Brazilian's best days are behind him, citing his recent performance and off-field incidents.Benzema's departure changed Vinicius's role
After learning and progressing alongside Karim Benzema, Vinicius took on a new dimension at Real Madrid when Benzema left for Saudi Arabia. Before Kylian Mbappé arrived, the Brazilian became the strong link in the Real Madrid attack, almost reaching the Ballon d'Or title in 2024.Ballon d'Or setback and Vinicius's response
Ultimately overtaken by Rodri, Vinicius accepted the setback, and since then, he has never regained his best level. Some believe he will never do so again, with Lorgeré stating he will not be in the Top 20 of the Ballon d'Or again.Lorgeré's comments on TV
Charlotte Lorgeré made a radical assessment on Monday evening on the set of the L’Équipe channel. The former player of RC Lens estimated that the end of Vinicius's "premium" version was already decided.Positivity amid criticism
Lorgeré added a note of positivity, acknowledging that Vinicius would still score goals and make interesting dribbles. She noted a more positive attitude from him at times, despite less playing time and fewer complaints.Disciplinary incident and future uncertainty
Lorgeré referred to Vinicius Junior's expulsion last weekend during the Liga match won narrowly by Real Madrid against Villarreal (1-0). The Brazilian pulled the hair of an opponent and even bumped into a Liga employee. His future at Real Madrid remains uncertain, with some suggesting a move to a club where he could be the focal point.