Vinicius joins Real Madrid's Champions League greats

Brazilian star Vinicius Junior continued his continental brilliance, setting a new Champions League record during Real Madrid's playoff first leg against Benfica. Vinicius scored the game's only goal in the 50th minute, receiving the ball and driving into the penalty area before unleashing a perfectly placed shot with the inside of his foot that nestled into the top left corner of the net, giving Los Blancos a crucial away advantage. With this goal, Vinicius raised his Champions League tally to 31, becoming the second-highest scoring Brazilian player in the competition's history, surpassing the legendary Kaká. His achievement didn't stop there, as he also equaled Real Madrid legend Paco Gento's record of 31 goals for the club in the Champions League, placing him sixth on the club's all-time top scorers list in the continental competition.