Vini Jr's cheeky social media reaction to Madrid's Mestalla win

Despite being forced to watch from the sidelines, Vinicius Jr found his own way to celebrate Real Madrid’s vital win at Mestalla – with a mischievous social media post that speaks volumes about his relationship with Valencia.

Absent but not silent

The Brazilian winger missed Sunday’s clash through suspension, keeping him away from a stadium where he’s experienced some of his most controversial moments since arriving in Spain. Mestalla has unfortunately become synonymous with the racist abuse Vini has faced, with several ugly incidents involving sections of the Valencia fanbase that the player has repeatedly condemned.

But being banned didn’t stop him celebrating Madrid’s crucial three points in the title race. Following the victory that kept Los Blancos just a point behind Barcelona in the La Liga standings, Vinicius took to social media with a simple but pointed message: “Pegamos!!!!” – accompanied by a laughing emoji.

The significance

The Portuguese word “pegamos” roughly translates to “we got them” or “we beat them” – a seemingly innocent celebration that nonetheless carries extra weight given the context of his previous Mestalla experiences.

For Madrid fans, it’s the kind of cheeky response they’ve come to expect from their Brazilian star – a bit of harmless banter after a massive result. For Valencia supporters, it might feel like twisting the knife after a defeat on their home turf.

Back in action

The good news for Madridistas is that their Brazilian talisman won’t be missing much more action. Vinicius is set to return to the starting lineup this Saturday when Real Madrid host Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabéu.

With the title race looking like it could go right down to the wire, Carlo Ancelotti will be proper chuffed to have his dynamic forward back in the fold as they continue to chase down Barça at the summit.