A life-size doll wearing the shirt of Brazilian soccer star Vinicius Jr. was found hung off a bridge in Madrid early Thursday morning, just hours before a game between archrivals Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.
Real hosted Atletico for a quarterfinal game for the annual Copa del Rey tournament on Thursday. Real won, 3-1 and Vinicius scored a goal. The mannequin was hung in front of Real Madrid’s training facility next to a flag that read “Madrid hates Real.”
The 22-year-old player, who is Black, became a Real Madrid hero last year after scoring the game’s sole goal in the Champions League final against Liverpool. He is considered one of the best wingers in the world.