This Real Madrid Legend Saw Pelé in Vinícius Jr.

Emilio Butragueño, the director of institutional relations at Real Madrid, praised Vinícius Junior after he scored a hat-trick in the comeback against Borussia Dortmund (5-2). He specifically noted that Vinícius's third goal reminded him of Pelé.

“Lucas deserved a goal for his constant effort and professionalism. Vinícius has scored some incredible goals, and that third one, in particular, reminded me of Pelé with the way he entered the area and that feint. It’s a fantastic goal for all of us who love football. It justifies coming to the Bernabéu and shows what a player can do to evoke so many emotions, including admiration. It was a brilliant performance because he took responsibility when the game was at its toughest. Next Monday, the day the Ballon d'Or winner is announced, I don’t think there will be many doubts,” he said on Realmadrid TV.

Butragueño also highlighted his team's ability to come back in matches at the Santiago Bernabéu once again. “It’s happened again; this place has something very special about it, and our players, our fans, and our rivals know that. Once again, under very adverse circumstances, we were down 0-2 at halftime against a great team like Dortmund. We put on a show in the second half,” he reflected.

“In the second half, we played well, strong in duels, the team stayed calm, and we were effective up front. It was very exciting. We knew that one goal, one play could turn the emotional tide of the game. After scoring the first one, the Bernabéu erupted with that electric energy. We equalized quickly, and the team showed maturity and composure. They knew how to manage the game in the second half, and we deserved to win,” he added.