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Vinicius Junior is smiling again.

Five goals, four assists, and there is a feeling that football has returned to his body this season – fluid, joyful – after a mixed campaign last time round.

In Saturday’s 3-1 win against Villarreal, the Vinicius who makes Real Madrid tick danced once more.

He came away with two goals, and was also the team’s leader in dribbles (six), chances created (six), total shots (five), and passes in the final third (46).

A year after his own second-place Ballon d’Or finish, it also seems Vinicius has accepted that Kylian Mbappe’s leadership of the attack is beyond question, as the duo continue to combine in devastating fashion to help Real to the top of La Liga.

Against Villarreal, when Vini went to ground, he looked up at Mbappe. “You or me”? he asked the designated penalty taker.

The Frenchman handed him the role, a sign of affection that continued after the match on social media. “Always on your boat”, wrote Mbappe. Vinicius replied: “We sail together, brother”.

But behind the scenes, the 25-year-old Brazilian’s Real Madrid future has never been more uncertain as talks to extend his contract beyond 2027 continue to stall.

Xabi Alonso, his new coach in Madrid, said: “I like to see him smile – it’s very important”.

It was a revealing comment. Whether Vinicius smiles or not has become a national debate.

Some people hail him as a sign of hope, while others accuse him of being arrogant when he smiles. He is referred to as disrespectful when he protests.

People claim that he is unhappy with his contract if he keeps quiet. They direct him to act if he complains.

Each of the three acts acts as a character referendum: a dance, a celebration, or a complaint.

For the moment, his best start to a season since moving to Madrid, coupled with his current form, has silenced critics.

But they are always present, either behind a microphone, behind a keyboard, or in the stands, ready to retaliate for an error. Spain celebrates his accomplishments while observing his behavior, at least a portion of it.

Additionally, Vinicius’ future at Real Madrid seems less certain than ever.

After the World Cup, the player and the club were on the verge of restarting.

Even Vinicius was requesting a lower salary until 2030 in order to extend his offer. The fight was close between the two. Then everything frozen.

It was a coincidence that Xabi Alonso arrived, but it’s more about the player and his advisers staying silent until they understand what he does under Mbappe’s leadership and Rodrygo agreeing to play him on the left, a fight Vini Jr. has currently won.

Few people in Valdebebas, the club’s training facility, doubt his caliber. However, Vinicius is no longer the guaranteed starter he was under Carlo Ancelotti because of Alonso’s changes to Madrid, including his rotations and his emphasis on tactical structure. Viccius wants to know how that develops.

The club believes a decision must be reached by the summer, with the possibility of ending a player’s contract if they do not agree to a new one.

Vinicius’ hostility is real, and it includes names, dates, and court judgments.

He has received insults in Spanish stadiums. After a black mannequin carrying his shirt was hanged from a bridge, he has testified in court.

In Valencia and Mallorca, LaLiga’s efforts to stop racist abuse have resulted in the punishment of fans, largely due to the court system’s longstanding obsession with making racist language and “banter” sport’s “industrial” language and “banter” with indulgence.

The same voices reappear every time he reacts, pointing to the stands, asking referees to act, or refusing to pretend it didn’t happen. “Yes, they insult him, but he should behave better.

It appears that he didn’t originate both of his protests and provocations in the same place. Living in a situation where he must smile while being insulted, he makes his gestures, his anger, and his resistance.

In Spain, playing football requires constant scrutiny. In a cultural trial, every movement is presented as evidence. Every expression is examined with docility-explicit gaze.

Spanish football insists that its game is not racist, which is perhaps a contributing factor. The bias is whispered through commentary and toned down rather than shouted.

Being himself while being constantly weighed by someone else’s comfort is Vinicius’ way of life.

This conflict occurs on weekends in both stadiums and studios. His dance combines defiance with joy. His anger is not petulance; it is protection.

Composure and virtue are still misplaced in Spain’s moral code. It rewards the player who maintains calm, avoids conflict, and exhibits polite behavior. However, that code was created in a lost football world.

Players of today are not passive idols. They are activists, artists, brands, and citizens of other countries. A tool is visible. Visicius is aware of the significance of both his presence and defiance.

However, the majority of the public interprets it as provocation rather than acknowledging that courage. He is misunderstood because of his behavior, not because of his existence, which upsets old prejudices about how respect is defined.

The footballer’s transformation into a public narrative also resonates with him. The contemporary player doesn’t just play; he creates identity through social media, sponsorships, and personal branding.

Luxury, lights, and spectacle are the hallmarks of Lamine Yamal’s birthday celebration. His portrayal of authenticity and modern fame can be understood.

However, Vinicius is handled differently. Although he is loud, there is a purpose to his noise.

He is a sociological and sporting figure at the intersection of football, race, and contemporary celebrity.

He’s a part of a new generation of athletes who won’t let themselves fit into someone else’s comfort because he’s not just a winger.

Tom Lockyer says he is ready to resume his football career after a lengthy recovery following a cardiac arrest.

The 30-year-old Wales defender has not played a competitive match for club or country since suffering the cardiac arrest during Luton Town’s Premier League fixture with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on 16 December 2023.

Lockyer had previously collapsed on the field seven months earlier – during the Hatters’ Championship play-off final win against Coventry City at Wembley.

The Cardiff-born defender’s recovery was further prolonged as he required ankle surgery on two occasions in the past year.

“It’s been a long old road, it really has,” the 30-year-old told the Feast of Football podcast.

“But I’m delighted to say I’ve been cleared to play football again so obviously that’s amazing, just everything I’ve worked for ever since it [the cardiac arrest] happened.

Lockyer is currently without a club after Luton, who were relegated in May for the second successive season, told the player his contract would not be renewed when it expired last summer.

Despite that, Luton ensured the former Bristol Rovers and Charlton Athletic centre-back could continue to use their facilities and work with their physios and medical staff during his rehabilitation.

Lockyer has played 16 times for Wales, his last cap coming in November 2023 in a Euro 2024 qualifier against Turkey.

That came under former Wales boss Rob Page, with Craig Bellamy now installed as national head coach and impressing at the helm according to Lockyer.

“He’s [Bellamy] still pretty early in his journey I’d imagine, from where he probably wants to get to and where he wants to be,” Lockyer said.

“That’s probably pretty exciting for Wales fans because he doesn’t think he’s the finished article, and he says there’s still a lot to improve on and learn.

“I think he is a breath of fresh air, the way that he talks about these games coming up and he doesn’t choose easy games.

“You look at the Canada game [a 1-0 friendly defeat last September], it was a tough, tough game, a really good side but he cherishes it, he looks forward to it, he wants that game.

“He understands that it might not look good on paper that we’ve lost a game, but the amount of learning and the amount of progress that can be made off the back of that is really refreshing.”

Wales face England in another tough friendly at Wembley on Thursday, 9 October before hosting Belgium in a World Cup qualifier at Cardiff City Stadium the following Monday.

While questions have been raised in some quarters as to why Wales have chosen to play England just ahead of a crucial World Cup qualifier, Lockyer believes Bellamy’s willingness to pit his side against difficult opponents will pay dividends.

Lockyer added: “Bellamy has been quite vocal about the data that he wants in terms of players running.

“I think he said as well that we’d love to play Canada because they’re very athletic and then we get the data.

“What he does with the data I don’t really know but he has these demands he puts on players – you have to work hard is non-negotiable and I absolutely love that.

After a lengthy recovery following a cardiac arrest, Tom Lockyer declares that he is ready to resume playing football.

Since suffering a cardiac arrest during Luton Town’s Premier League game against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on December 16, 2023, the 30-year-old Wales defender has not played a competitive game for the club or nation.

Prior to the Hatters’ Championship play-off final win against Coventry City at Wembley, Lockyer had previously collapsed on the field.

The Cardiff-born defender’s recovery took even longer as he had ankle surgery twice in the previous year.

The 30-year-old told the Football Feast podcast that “it’s been a long, old road, it really has.”

“But I’m delighted to announce that I’ve been cleared to play football once more, which is amazing, just everything I’ve done since the cardiac arrest took place.

After Luton, who were promoted for the second consecutive season in May, told the player that his contract would not be renewed when it expired last summer, Lockyer is currently without a club.

Despite that, Luton made sure the former centre-back, who played for Bristol Rovers and Charlton Athletic, could use their facilities and collaborate with their physios and medical staff while he was recovering.

Lockyer has made 16 appearances for Wales, with his last one coming in a Euro 2024 qualifying match against Turkey in November 2023.

According to Lockyer, Craig Bellamy has been appointed as the nation’s head coach and has impressed under the leadership of former Wales boss Rob Page.

According to Lockyer, “He’s]Bellamy] is still relatively young in his journey, from where he probably wants to go and where he wants to be.”

Because he doesn’t believe Wales is the finished article, and he claims there is still much to learn and improve, that’s probably quite exciting for Wales fans.

“I think he is a breath of fresh air,” he said as he discussed these coming up with the idea of playing challenging games.

He cherishes the Canada game, which was a 1-0 friendly defeat in September, and he wants that game.

He acknowledges that losing a game may not appear as good on paper, but it is really refreshing to learn and make progress from it.

On Thursday, October 9, Wales travel to Wembley to play another difficult friendly before hosting Belgium in a World Cup qualifying game on Monday.

Despite some people asking why Wales chose to play England just before a crucial World Cup qualifier, Lockyer thinks Bellamy’s willingness to put his side to the test will pay off.

Lockyer continued, “Bellamy has been very vocal about the information he wants for players to run.”

“I believe he also said that we would love to play Canada because they are very athletic, and we will then receive the data.”

You have to work hard, he says, and I absolutely love that. “I don’t really know what he does with the data, but he has these demands he puts on players,” he says.

Ronnie O’Sullivan comfortably won his first-round match at the Xi’an Grand Prix in China, while Judd Trump hit a maximum 147 break as he beat three-time women’s world champion Ng On-yee.

Seven-time world champion O’Sullivan was making his first outing since losing the Saudi Arabia Masters final to Neil Robertson in August.

Playing his 1,000th ranking-event match, the 49-year-old started off with a 107 against Ukraine’s Iulian Boiko and made a 112 in the fourth frame before going on to claim a 5-0 win.

Trump’s maximum – the ninth of his career and first since 2022 – came in the fifth frame of the 2019 world champion’s 5-2 victory against Ng.

“It’s been a while. A lot of other people have been making 147s and making it look easy,” said England’s Trump. “I feel it was about time I made one.

“It was special to make one in China – the atmosphere was very good out there.”

The Republic of Ireland’s Aaron Hill also made a 147 in the second frame of his match against Huang Jiahao.

There have now been 13 maximums so far this season – the record is 15, recorded in the 2024-25 season.

“It’s a little bit surprising everyone has been making them,” added Trump.

Hong Kong’s Ng took the first frame of the match with a 74 break but Trump knocked in breaks of 100, 94 and the 147 on his way to victory and a second-round tie against Welshman Matthew Stevens.

Reigning men’s world champion Zhao Xintong beat fellow Chinese player Wang Xinbo 5-2, while Australian Neil Robertson was a 5-1 winner against Irish teenager Leone Crowley.