It was a rough day for Vini Jr.
TheReal Madrid star was handed a red card that led to a disallowed goal during La Liga club's 1-0 win over Villarreal on Saturday, Oct. 10.
Vinícius Júnior came on as a substitute in the 52nd minute, replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold with the match scoreless. Twenty minutes later, Vini Jr. sent a pass to Jude Bellingham, who dribbled downfield and Vini Jr. raced with him. Bellingham nearly ran out of room at the end of the pitch before striking the ball to Vini Jr. in front of the net. Vini Jr. kicked it in for a goal.
The score was momentous for the 26-year-old, who has been underperforming of late, which is why he was out of the starting lineup. Manager José Mourinho ran onto the pitch to celebrate with Vini Jr.
and his teammates.
However, the whistle blew because the referees caught Vini Jr. pulling the hair of Nathan Saliba, forcing his neck backward, as he raced past him to follow Bellingham. After a VAR review, Vini Jr. was given a red card. His goal was disallowed and he was ejected from the match. The forward let out a loud, "What?!" and tried to confront the referee as his teammate Antonio Rüdiger stood between them in an attempt to calm the situation.
🚨Vini Jr got a RED CARD for pulling Nathan Saliba’s hair pic.twitter.com/tXIlg4exxH
— Polymarket Sports (@PolymarketSport) October 10, 2026
According to ESPN, Mourinho did not attend the post-match news conference.
Yan Diomandé scored the lone goal for Real Madrid in the 63rd minute.
Also on Saturday, Athenea Del Castillo, while playing for Spain's national team, got a red card for pulling the hair of USWNT player Michelle Cooper in a friendly. Sophia Wilson, also of the United States, was given a red card on Saturday, Oct. 3 for grabbing the hair of Boston Legacy's Laís Araújo during a Portland Thorns loss. Two days before the Spain loss, her suspension was extended a match.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Vini Jr. gets red card that disallows goal for Real Madrid
