Vinícius Júnior said his crying gesture after scoring in Real Madrid’s 2-1 win at Manchester City on Tuesday was a direct response to a banner displayed by City supporters during last season’s meetings between the clubs.
The Brazil international opened the scoring in the match and celebrated by placing his hands near his face in a mock-crying motion. After the game, he explained that the celebration was aimed at sections of the home crowd who had previously taunted him with a sign referencing the song “Stop Crying Your Heart Out.”
According to Vinícius, he had not forgotten last season’s banner and chose this moment to respond on the field. His gesture came in front of the away end as Real Madrid players gathered to mark the goal, while City fans looked on from the surrounding stands.
The match itself was another intense chapter in the recent run of high-profile encounters between Real Madrid and Manchester City in European competition. Both teams have faced each other repeatedly in recent years in decisive knockout ties, building a rivalry that has featured dramatic comebacks, standout individual performances and a growing sense of familiarity on and off the pitch.
Vinícius has been a central figure in many of those games, often drawing close attention from opposing defenders and strong reactions from crowds. His celebration on Tuesday underlined how those emotions can carry over from one season to the next, with players and supporters remembering previous incidents.
The forward did not single out individual fans or comment on any other interactions in the stands, but made clear that the specific banner from last season served as his motivation for the gesture. He framed the celebration as a footballing response, delivered through his performance in a crucial away victory.
Real Madrid’s win at the Etihad Stadium adds another notable moment to Vinícius’ history against Manchester City, reinforcing his role as a key figure in the Spanish club’s attacking line and in this developing European rivalry.
