The rivalry between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, known as the classic, has always been a show of passion, talent and controversy, both inside and outside the pitch. In the 2024/25 season, this historic competition has reached a new peak of intensity, not only because of the stellar performances of its stars, but also for an explosive verbal exchange between two of the most prominent Brazilian players of the moment: Raphinha, Barcelona, ​​and Vinicius Jr., of Real Madrid. A recent statement of Raphinha, full of arrogance, has unleashed a storm on social networks and has resulted in a scathing response from Vinicius that has left culé without words.

It all started after the 4-0 Barcelona victory over Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabéu in October 2024, a match that marked a turning point in the season. Raphinha, who shone with a goal and an assistance, did not hold on when talking to the press after the match. In an interview withThe country, the Barça end released a statement that ignited the alarms: “Real Madrid is nothing more than a dazzled shadow, it can never match the legendary dimension of Barcelona.” His words, impregnated with trust and challenge, resonated as a direct blow to merengue pride, especially at a time when Real Madrid struggled to find his best form after the arrival of Kylian Mbappé.

The answer was swift. Vinicius Jr., known for his combative character both in the field and outside it, turned to his X account to counterattack. In a series of publications, the Madrid striker broken down a list of “ten reasons” for which Real Madrid remains the largest club in the world. Among his replicas, Vinicius highlighted the 15 Champions League titles of Madrid against the five of Barcelona, ​​the recent conquest of LaLiga 2023/24 and its own impact on the team with 13 goals and 10 assists in the current season. “You talk about shadows, but the Bernabéu is still the lighthouse of world football,” Vinicius wrote, adding a crown emoji that unleashed a wave of reactions among fans.

The exchange not only fueled the rivalry between both clubs, but also highlighted the growing influence of the two Brazilians in their respective teams. Raphinha, under the direction of Hansi Flick, has emerged as a key piece in the culé attack, with 19 goals and 11 assists in 27 games until May 2025, according to data fromSport. His versatility and dynamism have made him a firm candidate for the Golden Ball, especially after his star performance in the Spanish Super Cup, where he marked a double and gave an assistance. However, his comment has been interpreted by some as an attempt to eclipse Vinicius, who, despite an irregular season, remains an unstoppable force with his speed and ability to unbalance defenses.

Vinicius’s reaction was not only a blow to Raphinha’s rhetoric, but also a reminder of the Madrid’s mental strength, which has faced criticism and episodes of racism with remarkable resilience. In one of his publications, Vinicius referred to Real Madrid’s struggle against racism in Bernabéu, a theme that Raphinha has also publicly supported, which added a layer of complexity to his verbal confrontation. “We talked in the field, not with empty words,” Vinicius wrote, making it clear that he prefers to respond with goals and assists to provocations.

The controversy has divided fans and media. While Barcelona’s followers applauded Raphinha’s confidence, the Madrid players celebrated the ingenious and forceful response of Vinicius.Markdescribed the exchange as “a classic outside the grass”, whileSports WorldHe suggested that Raphinha could have underestimated the impact of his words on a rival as proud as Real Madrid. In the Culé costume, Hansi Flick chose to subtract importance from the incident, praising Raphinha’s leadership but urging him to focus on the next game.

As the 2024/25 season advances, with Barcelona leading LaLiga with 79 points and Real Madrid stepping on its heels with 75, according to90min, this verbal confrontation has added more firewood to the fire of The Classic. The next time Raphinha and Vinicius are in the field, the world will be observing not only their football skills, but also the resolution of this battle of words. For now, Vinicius seems to have won the first round, leaving Raphinha in a silence that, in football, can only break with more goals and victories.