“Not a top 10 player in the world” - Arturo Vidal makes controversial claim on Real Madrid superstar

Former Barcelona midfielder Arturo Vidal has made a controversial claim about Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior. The veteran Chile international insists that the Brazilian winger doesn't rank among the top 10 footballers in the world currently.

Vinicius stole the limelight for Real Madrid in the recently concluded season. His performances, especially in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund, where he also scored a goal, earned him a lot of plaudits.

The applause has been so loud for the Brazilian that many have backed him to win the Ballon d'Or this year, which would establish him as the finest player on the planet.

However, Arturo Vidal doesn't agree with the majority. The former Barcelona midfielder is fully convinced that the Real Madrid winger doesn't even belong among the 10 best players in the world.

According to him, the 23-year-old is still missing a lot to be deserving of such a consideration.

"Vinícius Jr. is not a top 10 player in the world for me. He is missing a lot," the Chilean said in quotes carried by Madrid Zone on X (formerly Twitter).

Vidal's opinion might resonate with those who believe Vinicius Junior still needs to do more to be ranked among the sport's finest. Especially considering that he broke onto the scene only a few years ago while some other players have impressed for over a decade now.

However, no one can take away the brilliance from the Brazilian's game. He was a menace to opposition players in the recently concluded season, helping Real Madrid unlock defenses with his pace, dribbling and tricks.

Vinicius Junior's numbers for Real Madrid in the recently concluded season

During the 2023-24 campaign, the 23-year-old bagged 24 goals and 11 assists in 39 appearances for Real Madrid across all competitions. That includes 15 goals and six assists in La Liga, as well as six goals and five assists in the Champions League.

Thanks in part to his effort, the Merengues ended up winning La Liga and the Champions League. The club will want him to take his game to greater heights next season with the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Endrick set to arrive this summer.

Vinicius is currently on international duty, representing Brazil at the ongoing Copa America tournament. The Real Madrid star featured in the 0-0 draw with Costa Rica in their opening fixture, seeing 71 minutes of action and is expected to get involved again when the Selecao face Paraguay in their next game.