After an awful penalty miss during Real Madrid’s Champions League match against Atletico, a bewildered Vinicius Jr. gazed up at the night sky, wondering how his technique had failed him.

Last week, after Rodrygo and Julian Alvarez exchanged worldies, Brahim Diaz’s deft finish ended the close first leg between the local rivals at the Bernabeu.

But in front of their home fans, Diego Simeone’s team is a different proposition, and after just 27 seconds of play, they tied the score. However, as the match appeared headed for extra time, there were little opportunities after that.

That is, until Kylian Mbappe’s devastating display of speed and cunning earned the 15-time champions a penalty. After getting off the canvas, the Frenchman was supposed to take the spot kick, but Vinicius Jr. took it instead.

Unfortunately for Los Blancos, the Brazilian’s bad night continued into his 12-yard shot, which he hit just as wide as Jan Oblak’s post and several meters high.

This season, Madrid has been incredibly poor from the penalty spot. This season, Vinicius Jr.’s miss marks the club’s fourth try.

The winger fails from the penalty spot, joining teammates Jude Bellingham and Mbappe who missed one during Madrid’s match against Liverpool earlier this season.

After his now-famous Ballon d’Or snub last term, Vinicius Jr. has actually had a frustrating campaign. This summer, the Brazilian has been connected to a high-profile move to Saudi Arabia.

According to rumors from Spain last month, he met with Saudi Pro League executives in an attempt to make him their newest high-profile addition.

Marca claims that Saudi Arabian officials are committed to bringing Vinicius to their emerging top division.

According to reports, Vinicius met with league executives in Prague in 2023, including vice president Saad Al Lazeez, in an effort to pitch him on the transfer.

The Gulf State is apparently willing to offer him a five-year contract worth £830 million to join players like Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, and talks between the two parties have reportedly continued ever since.

According to reports, the forward will also represent the nation as an ambassador for the 2034 World Cup.

Although the athlete has not yet made a clear decision regarding his future plans, members of his entourage are reported to consider the approach that has been tabled as “unrejectable.”