The rivalry between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, known as El Clásico, has always been a spectacle of passion, talent, and controversy, both on and off the pitch. In the 2024/25 season, this historic competition has reached a new peak of intensity, not only due to the stellar performances of its stars, but also due to an explosive verbal exchange between two of the most prominent Brazilian footballers of the moment: Barcelona’s Raphinha and Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. A recent, arrogant statement from Raphinha sparked a storm on social media and led to a scathing response from Vinicius that left the Catalans speechless.

It all started after Barcelona’s 4-0 victory over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu in October 2024, a match that marked a turning point in the season. Raphinha, who shone with a goal and an assist, didn’t hold back when speaking to the press after the match. In an interview with El País , the Barça winger issued a statement that set off alarm bells: “Real Madrid is nothing more than a lackluster shadow; it will never be able to match the legendary dimension of Barcelona.” His words, imbued with confidence and defiance, resonated like a direct blow to Merengue pride, especially at a time when Real Madrid was struggling to find its best form following the arrival of Kylian Mbappé.

The response was swift. Vinicius Jr., known for his combative nature both on and off the pitch, took to his X account to respond. In a series of posts, the Real Madrid forward broke down a list of “ten reasons” why Real Madrid remains the biggest club in the world. Among his retorts, Vinicius highlighted Madrid’s 15 Champions League titles to Barcelona’s five, the recent conquest of La Liga in 2023/24, and his own impact on the team with 13 goals and 10 assists in the current season. “You speak of shadows, but the Bernabéu remains the beacon of world football,” Vinicius wrote, adding a crown emoji that sparked a wave of reactions from fans.

The swap not only fueled the rivalry between the two clubs, but also highlighted the growing influence of the two Brazilians on their respective teams. Raphinha, under Hansi Flick, has emerged as a key player in the Barça attack, with 19 goals and 11 assists in 27 games through May 2025, according to Sport . His versatility and dynamism have made him a strong candidate for the Ballon d’Or, especially after his stellar performance in the Spanish Super Cup, where he scored a brace and provided an assist. However, his comment has been interpreted by some as an attempt to overshadow Vinicius, who, despite an inconsistent start to the 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 Real Madrid player’s mental strength, having faced criticism and episodes of racism with remarkable resilience. In one of his posts, Vinicius referenced Real Madrid’s fight against racism at the Bernabéu, an issue Raphinha has also publicly supported, adding a layer of complexity to their verbal sparring. “We speak on the pitch, not with empty words,” Vinicius wrote, making it clear that he prefers to respond to provocations with goals and assists.

The controversy has divided fans and the media. While Barcelona supporters applauded Raphinha’s confidence, Real Madrid fans celebrated Vinicius’s witty and forceful response. Marca described the exchange as “a Clásico off the pitch,” while Mundo Deportivo suggested Raphinha might have underestimated the impact of his words on a rival as proud as Real Madrid. In the Barça dressing room, Hansi Flick chose to downplay the incident, praising Raphinha’s leadership but urging him to focus on the next match.

As the 2024/25 season progresses, with Barcelona leading La Liga with 79 points and Real Madrid hot on their heels with 75, according to 90min , this verbal sparring has added fuel to the fire of El Clásico. The next time Raphinha and Vinicius meet on the pitch, the world will be watching not only their footballing prowess, but also the resolution of this battle of words. For now, Vinicius appears to have won the first round, leaving Raphinha in a silence that, in football, can only be broken by more goals and wins.