Mbappe and Vinicius Junior Reflect on Toughest Career Opponents

Madrid, Spain – Real Madrid stars Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior have shared their experiences regarding the toughest opponents they have faced in their football careers. Their insights come just before a crucial match against Atlético Madrid, where they will aim to secure advancement in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night.

The famed duo will enter the match at the Metropolitano Stadium with a narrow 1-0 lead, thanks to goals from teammates Rodrygo and Brahim Diaz in the first leg. As they approach this pivotal clash, the stakes are high for Carlo Ancelotti‘s squad as they look to defend their European crown.

Both Mbappe and Vinicius are known for their prowess on the field, regularly testing their skills against some of the elite players across the globe. When asked about his toughest opponent, Mbappe pointed to legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who retired in 2023 after an illustrious career.

“For me it is Buffon,” Mbappe told Eurosport. “While I was playing in Monaco, in 2017 in the Champions League we faced Juventus, Gianluigi didn’t allow me any space in his goal.” Buffon’s remarkable career, filled with accolades and defensive prowess, certainly posed a challenge for the young striker during that match.

Vinicius Junior, on the other hand, chose Barcelona‘s Ronald Araujo as his most challenging adversary. Speaking after an intense El Clasico encounter earlier this year, he said, “The best defender I have ever faced is Araujo. He’s very strong and very good. That’s why he plays for Barca.” Araujo has cemented his reputation as a formidable defender since joining FC Barcelona from Uruguayan club Boston River in 2018, making over 150 appearances for the Catalan giants.

In addition to Araujo, Vinicius highlighted Chelsea’s Reece James and Manchester City’s Kyle Walker as two other impressively tough opponents in an interview with SPORTbible in 2022. “I’ve played against a lot of them and the most difficult opponents were [Reece] James and [Kyle] Walker,” he stated.

As Real Madrid prepares for the upcoming match against Los Colchoneros, the performance of Mbappe and Vinicius will be crucial. Their previous experiences against strong opponents could serve to bolster their resolve on the pitch.