UCL: How Vinicius Junior has outdone Mbappe, Haaland, Kane in Europe

Vinicius Junior notched two goals for Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday as Los Blancos drew 2-2 against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. 

The Brazilian latched on to Toni Kroos’ outstanding pass to send Carlo Ancelotti’s men 1-0 ahead against the run of play in Munich but two quick-fire Bayern goals at the start of the second half saw the Spanish giants trail. 

However, Vini Jr. had the game’s final say after converting from the spot to respond to Leroy Sane and Harry Kane scoring for the Bavarians to capitalise on Rodyrgo drawing a foul from Min-jam Kim in the 83rd minute. 

Tuesday night’s first goal took Vini Jr. to 15 goals and as many assists in the Champions League since the start of the 2021-22 season, outdoing Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Kane and Mohamed Salah.

It speaks to the consistency of the Real Madrid forward and underlines the Spanish side’s continued deep runs in the competition, something Mbappe has not had with Paris Saint-Germain until this term.

The teams Haaland has represented in that period have only made it to the semi-finals once — last season which Manchester City won — Kane’s only Champions League involvement was the 2022-23 season with Tottenham Hotspur. Salah’s Liverpool side played no part in this term’s competition, having exited early the previous year to Los Blancos. 

Vini Jr's latest goals mean the Real star has scored two goals or more in any competition for the 13th time, and it was the fourth occasion in which the Brazilian has notched that many goals in a single Champions League game for the club.

The forward's second goal of the night against Bayern took him to 16 goals and 15 assists in the Champions League since the 2021-22 season, and the forward should play a pivotal part when both sides renew hostilities at Santiago Bernabeu on May 8.