Vinícius’s Absence at Mestalla: The Curious Yellow Card That Shaped a Real Madrid Moment
1 February 2026
Match Context
Vinícius Júnior, Real Madrid’s star, will miss the upcoming clash with Valencia after receiving a yellow card in Sunday’s meeting with Rayo Vallecano, the 22nd round of La Liga.
Valencia’s Mestalla stadium remains one of his least favorite venues, a place that has often amplified tensions between the player and the home crowd.
Mundo Deportivo reported that the Brazilian himself chose to sit out the next game against Valencia after a needless yellow—his fifth of the season—meaning a suspension would follow.
It’s not that Vinícius didn’t deserve a card on the pitch, though some of his moments were criticized as theatrical. In the past, the referee Isidro Díaz had overlooked him on two occasions when he fell to the ground, one of them clearly, and no foul was awarded.
In a curious twist, Vinícius appeared almost eager to pick up a caution, receiving it in a surprisingly odd manner.
During a Rio Vallecano substitution, the Brazilian grew frustrated with Elias Akhomach’s delay in leaving the pitch and pushed him. A brief exchange followed, and the official sent both players off with yellow cards.
The yellow card now prevents Vinícius from playing at Mestalla, turning the stadium into something of a personal obstacle course for the Real Madrid forward.
The relationship between Vinícius and Valencia’s fans has grown increasingly strained in recent years, with taunts from the crowd and persistent commentary from local media.
Previously, three Valencia supporters were jailed for eight months and banned from stadiums for two years due to racist abuse aimed at Vinícius at Mestalla in May 2023.
In sum, the episode underlines ongoing challenges for players facing hostile atmospheres in Spanish football, and for referees navigating the fine line between emotion and discipline.
Punchline 1: If yellow cards paid the rent, Vinícius would own Mestalla by now. Punchline 2: Mestalla already feels like a psychology test—answer quickly, or the crowd writes the future chapters in chalk on the walls.
