“Luka Modric and Vinicius Jr Spark Tension in Dramatic 3-2 Win for Real Madrid Against Leganes”
“Luka Modric Clashes with Vinicius Jr in Fiery Moment During Real Madrid’s 3-2 Thriller Against Leganes”
Luka Modric had a heated exchange with Vinicius Junior during Real Madrid’s narrow 3-2 victory over CD Leganes in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals on Wednesday night (February 5). Carlo Ancelotti’s squad continues to struggle through a challenging period, with an ongoing injury crisis affecting key players like David Alaba, Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao, and Dani Carvajal.
Real Madrid left it late but secured their spot in the semi-finals thanks to a dramatic 90+3rd-minute winner from second-half substitute Gonzalo Garcia at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque. Luka Modric set the tone with an 18th-minute opener, followed by Brazilian prodigy Endrick doubling Madrid’s lead just six minutes later.
Leganes fought back as Juan Cruz converted a 39th-minute penalty before netting again in the 59th minute, capping off a brilliant team move to level the score. With Real Madrid on the brink of a frustrating night, 20-year-old Spanish forward Gonzalo Garcia came to the rescue, nodding in a close-range header in stoppage time to seal the win.
“Luka Modric Fumes at Vinicius Jr During Madrid’s Hard-Fought Win Over Leganes”
Carlo Ancelotti responded perfectly to the clash by throwing his support behind the Croatian.
Vinicius may not have found the net, but he shone against Leganes, tormenting their defense and striking the post with a dazzling move in the 64th minute. The Brazilian winger nearly turned provider for Brahim Diaz, but once again, the woodwork denied Madrid in the 75th minute.
Despite Vinicius’ brilliance, it was his heated exchange with Modric that stole the spotlight with just five minutes remaining. As Ancelotti’s side regrouped defensively, the 24-year-old found himself on the receiving end of the 39-year-old’s frustration for seemingly neglecting his defensive responsibilities.
According to Spanish outlet Marca, Modric confronted Vinicius, urging him to track back defensively as Leganes threatened on the counter. However, the 2024 Ballon d’Or runner-up appeared reluctant to follow the veteran midfielder’s command, sparking Modric’s frustration. The heated moment was caught on camera and quickly went viral.
People, who haven't touched a ball in their lives, were making such a big fuss about the Modric-Vinícius incident.
It can be clearly seen Luka only asked Viní to assist the team in defending, to which he responded "I'm already doing."
Normal 🤝pic.twitter.com/FEMDV3ueYG
— Tamoghna (@ReyesDeUniverso) February 6, 2025
When asked about the heated exchange in his post-match press conference, Ancelotti downplayed the incident and made it clear where his loyalty lies, firmly backing Modric.
When asked about the incident, Ancelotti responded, “Modric was angry with Vinicius? I’m not sure what happened, but if Modric said something, then it’s correct. I always stand by Luka Modric.”
🗣 Ancelotti: "Modrić was angry with Vinicius? I don't know what happened but if Modrić said something then it's correct. Always agree with Luka Modrić." pic.twitter.com/RbTuFWYNwB
— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) February 5, 2025
Modric brushed off suggestions of a rift between him and Vinicius, saying, “It’s football… You see everything you shouldn’t see.” However, their spat came just days after reports in Spain claimed that Vinicius had expressed frustration with teammate Dani Ceballos for not passing to him enough during a 1-0 loss to Espanyol.
Ancelotti will be keen to prevent any internal conflicts as Madrid enters a crucial phase of the season. Up next for Los Blancos is a high-stakes La Liga showdown with Atletico Madrid on Saturday (February 8), followed by the first leg of their UEFA Champions League knockout tie against Manchester City at the Etihad on Tuesday (February 11).