Vini Jr Makes History — Surpasses Messi’s Knockout Assist Record

Vinicius Junior has etched his name into UEFA Champions League history after surpassing Lionel Messi’s record for most assists in the competition’s knockout stages, even as Real Madrid suffered elimination at the hands of Bayern Munich in a gripping quarter-final encounter. According to Ireporter Online, the Brazilian winger provided a crucial assist for Kylian Mbappe during Madrid’s 4-3 second-leg loss on April 15, a result that confirmed a 6-4 aggregate defeat for the Spanish side.

With that contribution, Vinicius Junior now holds 13 assists in 41 knockout appearances, overtaking Messi’s previous mark of 12 assists recorded across 77 matches. Despite this milestone, he remains behind Cristiano Ronaldo, who continues to lead the standings with 15 assists from 85 knockout fixtures. The 25-year-old forward, who has already secured two Champions League titles with Madrid, is widely regarded as a strong contender to challenge Ronaldo’s record if he maintains his current trajectory. Messi boasts four Champions League titles, while Ronaldo leads with five, including four with Madrid and one with Manchester United.

The encounter, however, was marred by controversy following a late red card issued to Eduardo Camavinga. Bayern Munich defender Josip Stanisic questioned the decision, expressing doubt over whether referee Slavko Vincic was aware that the midfielder had already received a prior booking.

Madrid were leading 3-2 in the 62nd minute when coach Alvaro Arbeloa introduced Camavinga in an attempt to stabilise the game. The midfielder was booked shortly after for a late challenge and was later shown a second yellow card in the 86th minute for delaying a free-kick, reducing Madrid to ten men.

Bayern capitalised on the numerical advantage, with late goals from Luis Diaz and Michael Olise securing progression for the German side. Reacting after the match, Stanisic criticised the officiating, suggesting that better awareness from the referee could have altered the outcome. The incident mirrors a similar situation from last season’s quarter-final clash against Arsenal, where Camavinga was also sent off in a heavy defeat that ultimately saw Madrid exit the competition 5-1 on aggregate.