Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr hails Barcelona's Ronald Araujo as best defender ever faced

Vinicius Jr's comments came during his post-match interview after Real Madrid defeated Chelsea 2-0 in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday night at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

The Brazilian international was once again the standout performer for Real Madrid against Chelsea, delivering a Man of the Match display by setting up both of his team's goals on the night.

In his post-match chat, Vinicius Jr singled out Araujo as his toughest opponent to date, stating: "The best defender I have ever faced is Araujo. He's very strong and very good. That's why he plays for Barca."

Vinicius Jr and Araujo have engaged in captivating duels in recent El Clasico encounters, with Barcelona's coach Xavi Hernandez deploying Araujo as a right-back to counter the threat posed by the Brazilian forward.

The tactic has yielded success for Barcelona, with Vinicius Jr struggling to perform at his best in some of the meetings against them. Thus, it comes as no surprise that he has lauded Araujo as the best defender he has faced.

During the interview, Vinicius Jr also expressed his admiration for Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti and his aspirations to be coached by the Italian at both club and international levels, saying: "For me, Ancelotti is the best coach in the world. If he is going to coach me at Madrid or in Brazil? I hope it will be in both places."

Vinicius Jr also affirmed his commitment to Real Madrid, stating: "Hopefully I can stay here forever," amid talks of a potential new contract that could extend his stay at the club until 2027.

With his exceptional performances on the pitch and his unwavering loyalty to the club, Vinicius Jr continues to establish himself as one of the brightest talents in world football.