Vinícius Júnior expressed his regret after receiving a red card during Real Madrid's thrilling 2-1 comeback win against Valencia in LaLiga. The incident occurred in the second half when Vinícius was sent off for striking Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski. His dismissal came shortly after Madrid had fallen behind, further complicating their efforts to secure a victory in the first match of 2025.

The match was marked by dramatic moments, including a missed penalty by Jude Bellingham and a disallowed goal for Kylian Mbappé. Despite being down to ten men, Real Madrid rallied to equalize through Luka Modric in the 85th minute, followed by a decisive goal from Bellingham in injury time, securing their position at the top of the LaLiga table, two points ahead of Atlético Madrid.

In a post-match message on social media, Vinícius stated, "Sorry, and thanks team!!!!!!" reflecting his acknowledgment of the impact his actions had on the game. Real Madrid's head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, supported Vinícius, suggesting that the red card should have been a pair of yellow cards instead. He confirmed that the club would appeal the decision, expressing hope that Vinícius would be available for their next match, as he remains a crucial player for the team.