Real Madrid star breaks Lionel Messi’s UEFA Champions League knockout record | OneFootball

Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. has established himself as one of the most decisive players in the UEFA Champions League.

In fact, the Brazilian forward has now provided more assists than legendary Lionel Messi in this phase of the competition, achieving this feat in significantly fewer matches.

While Messi recorded 12 assists in the Champions League knockouts throughout his career, Vinicius has already surpassed that tally with 13 assists despite playing 50 games fewer.

However, when it comes to goals in the latter stages of the tournament, Messi’s numbers remain on another level.

The Argentine forward has scored an astonishing 49 goals in Champions League knockout matches across 77 appearances.

This incredible record will take years for Vinicius or any other player to come close to matching, highlighting Messi’s long-standing dominance in European football.

Vinicius is cruising

Despite the challenge of reaching Messi’s goal tally, Vinicius continues to improve his attacking output for Real Madrid. So far this season, the Brazilian has been in outstanding form, consistently delivering in crucial moments.

Across all competitions, he has found the back of the net 16 times, with seven of those goals coming in the Champions League and eight in La Liga. Alongside his goal-scoring exploits, he has also been a creative force, registering 11 assists in all competitions.

Vinicius has cemented his place as one of the most dangerous forwards in world football. His ability to provide key passes, take on defenders, and score important goals makes him a crucial asset for Real Madrid in their pursuit of silverware this season.

As he continues to develop, the Brazilian will have the opportunity to further enhance his record in the Champions League if Real Madrid beat Manchester City in the second leg and move closer to the remarkable standards set by the likes of Messi.