Brazilian legend and 1999 Ballon d’Or winner Rivaldo has shared his thoughts on the tense moment during El Clásico when Vinicius Jr. was substituted by Xabi Alonso.

“His reaction wasn’t right — I don’t agree with what he did,” Rivaldo admitted in remarks to Betfair. “But we must understand the context — this isn’t about just one game. It’s about repeated substitutions and ongoing situations. Sometimes, when a coach has also been a great player, he might not enjoy seeing another player steal the spotlight.”

Rivaldo also reminded everyone that Vinicius is currently FIFA’s Best Player in the World, saying: “Whether people like it or not, Vinicius is still the best player in the world according to FIFA. A player like him, who’s such a key asset for Real Madrid, shouldn’t be substituted seven matches in a row — especially not in a Clásico that was still open and could have gone either way.”

The former Brazilian star even hinted that there might be a psychological element at play. “I don’t know if it’s personal, but sometimes a coach wants to show authority by substituting the biggest name. It’s like saying: ‘If I can do it with Vinicius, I can do it with anyone.’ But for me, players like Vinicius and Mbappé should always be untouchable — they’re the ones who win games.”

Still, Rivaldo recognized that the Real Madrid star’s reaction was excessive: “Vinicius’ gestures weren’t right; he said some bad things, and that doesn’t look good. But I understand his frustration — he was playing well, he was key in the second goal, and he helped control the game up front. Anyone in his position might have felt the same.”

Rivaldo concluded with a message of reconciliation: “Ideally, Vinicius and Xabi Alonso will make peace. They’re both working for the same goal — to win titles. Vinicius is young, brave, and full of personality. I’m sure everything will be resolved soon.”

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