Levante captain and center-back Elgezabal endured a difficult night against the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior. The defender struggled for much of the match and eventually vented his frustration with a yellow-card foul on Vinicius in the second half.
After the game, Elgezabal spoke about the Brazilian’s behavior during the penalty sequence:
“I don’t want to add fuel to the fire, but it’s true that when we are disrespected—not just us, but the fans and the team we represent—we are also people
and we have to say enough is enough. I know [Vinicius] is a player with a lot of potential, but there are certain situations that I don’t agree with as a person. I think I defend and transmit values that sometimes you have to say enough is enough. It wasn’t the time for that, for me it was out of place… And well, that’s it. I don’t want to give it more hype because it’s not necessary, but I defend my people. And that’s all I can say,”
Elgezabal didn’t elaborate on the incident, but photos and videos showed what sparked his reaction. Moments before Mbappe converted the 3–1 penalty, Vinicius appeared to brush Elgezabal’s face with his left hand as he walked past him. The defender, who had just conceded the penalty on Mbappe, immediately confronted the Brazilian in protest.
Levante’s Carlos Alvarez then joined in, approaching Vinicius to call him out for the gesture, while the forward simply pointed to the referee at the penalty spot and ignored the complaints.
Vinicius’ competitive edge and fiery temperament often fuel these types of confrontations on the pitch. At 26, his intensity remains a double-edged sword, it’s what drives him to succeed but also o pits his opposition counterparts and the fanbase against him.
