The relationship between Vinicius Jr. and sections of the Real Madrid fanbase is becoming increasingly strained.
What was once a bond built on decisive goals, big-game performances, and relentless flair now appears fragile, with tension visible almost every time Los Blancos play at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Notably, the Brazilian forward has regularly been met with whistles and boos when substituted or after below-par displays, a situation that has sparked renewed debate among supporters and pundits alike.
Ronaldo’s comments resurface
As this pressure mounts, social media has resurfaced comments made years ago by Cristiano Ronaldo, words that many believe remain highly relevant today.
The remarks came during Ronaldo’s time at Real Madrid in an interview with journalist Josep Pedrerol.
At the time, the Portuguese star was reflecting on the demanding nature of the Bernabeu crowd and the impact it can have on players during difficult moments.
Ronaldo explained that greatness in football is not only about performing when everything is going well.
He stressed that true support is often needed most when confidence is low and form dips.
Esto le decía Cristiano Ronaldo a Pedrerol, con 32 años, en una entrevista, sobre los pitos del Bernabéu.
"No lo entiendo."
"No me gusta."
"No se puede pitar a un jugador en casa."
"No hay que animar sólo cuando salen las cosas bien"
👉👂pic.twitter.com/WTbwzwIZWV
— Juanca 🇪🇦 (@ToniBossRM) December 21, 2025
“You’re not only the best when you do things right and score goals.
“When you’re going through a difficult phase, you need extra support from outside, and sometimes we don’t have that,” the Portuguese footballer began.
Words of wisdom
Ronaldo then went further, touching on a reality that many players feel but few openly admit.
He explained how fear of fan reaction can silence footballers and slowly normalise criticism from the stands.
“Maybe there are a lot of players who are afraid to say it because they think that next season, or next weekend, they’re going to be booed. So you end up getting used to it,” he lamented.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner later compared his experiences in Spain with those in England.
“I played for many years in Manchester, and it never happened to me. The mentalities are different,” he said.
While criticism is part of life at Real Madrid, the balance between demand and support is once again under scrutiny, and his comments serve as a reminder that even legends felt the weight of the Bernabeu.