Aballou: A site made by fans, for fans

Vinícius Júnior Flips the Script: Tongue Out and Tensions Steal the Spanish Super Cup Smoke

9 January 2026

Vinícius Júnior Flips the Script: Tongue Out and Tensions Steal the Spanish Super Cup Smoke
Vinícius Júnior taunts Simeone after the spat in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final.

Vinícius Júnior's tongue-out sparks clash with Simeone in Spanish Super Cup semi-final

Brazilian star Vinícius Júnior, Real Madrid's forward, showed his tongue at Atlético Madrid's Argentine coach Diego Simeone after a verbal clash in the semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup.

After being substituted in the 80th minute, Vinícius clashed verbally with Simeone, with others stepping in to separate them.

AS reported that the exchanges had begun in the first half, when the Argentine coach told the Real Madrid ace "Florentino Perez will eject you — remember what I tell you".

Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid's coach, voiced his displeasure at Simeone's reaction, saying the Atlético boss crossed the boundaries of sportsmanship.

Madrid has often prevailed over its neighbor Atlético in knockout ties, most notably in Champions League finals in 2014 and 2016 when Real lifted the trophy.

Madrid edged Atlético 2-1 to reach the final against Barcelona on Sunday, a match set to be shown on the Eight app, the exclusive broadcaster of the Roshen Saudi league.

After the match, Vinícius posted on Instagram: "Simeone lost in another knockout game."

Punchlines: Vinícius delivered a tongue-out mic drop; Simeone blinked. If football were stand-up, this would be the headlining act.

Author

Avatar

Michael Whooosh

I am Michael Whooosh, an English sports journalist born in 1986. Passionate about surfing, poetry, and beekeeping, I share my human and sensitive view of sports.

Frequently Asked Questions

What triggered the spat between Vinínius Júnior and Diego Simeone?

A verbal clash during the Spanish Super Cup semi-final, intensified by Simeone's first-half remarks and a heated exchange after Vinícius was substituted.

What was the match outcome and next steps?

Real Madrid won 2-1 and advanced to face Barcelona in the final, with Eight app broadcasting the game.

What did Xabi Alonso comment about the incident?

Alonso criticized Simeone's reaction as crossing the line of sportsmanship.