Vinicius Jr. in the Spotlight After Controversial Valencia Incident and Personal Life News

Vinicius Jr. has been making headlines in the football world following his red card during Real Madrid's match against Valencia at Mestalla. The Brazilian forward was sent off after deliberately hitting goalkeeper Dimitrievski "in the head" and having to be restrained by club members as he continued protesting, as documented by the referee. Many fans and commentators have expressed that his two-match suspension was too lenient, adding fuel to the controversy.

Aside from his on-pitch issues, Vinicius is also in the news due to his personal life. The forward spent his Christmas holidays in Dubai with friends, and pictures from his trip revealed that he is spending time with Maria Julia Mazalli, who appears to be his current girlfriend. Maria Julia, a 29-year-old Brazilian influencer with nearly 1 million Instagram followers, first gained fame in 2017 as a participant in the reality show 'De Férias com o Ex' (‘The Revenge of the Exes’), which is similar to the popular show 'The Island of Temptations'.

Vinicius' Personal Life and Relationship Developments

Their relationship was first rumored in 2019, after Maria Julia posted a photo that seemed to be taken in the footballer's bathroom, and the two exchanged likes and comments on social media. Though the speculation faded at the time, the recent photos shared by Vinicius on Instagram reignited the rumors.

In a gallery posted by the Real Madrid star, Maria is seen in a group photo taken in the desert, and reports indicate that Vinicius has liked several of her pictures. They have also shared posts featuring them in the same dressing room, wearing matching outfits, which further suggests their connection, as noted by reporter Javier de Hoyos on TikTok.

• Controversy: Vinicius Jr. received a red card against Valencia, with many feeling the two-match suspension was insufficient.
• Personal Life: Vinicius spent the holidays in Dubai with friends and was seen with Maria Julia Mazalli, a Brazilian influencer.
• Relationship History: The couple was first linked in 2019, and recent social media posts have further fueled speculation about their relationship.
• Public Reactions: Fans and media are closely following both his football career and personal life.