Why the Teresa Herrera trophy caught Vinicius Junior’s eye after Real Madrid win

Brazil forward Vinicius Junior appeared to make fun of the distinctive Teresa Herrera trophy after Real Madrid beat Deportivo La Coruna 1-0 in a pre-season match in A Coruna on Wednesday.

Vinicius was seen speaking to members of Real Madrid’s coaching staff after the final whistle, with his comments and gestures seemingly directed at the unusual design of the historic cup. The moment attracted attention because of the trophy’s striking appearance and large size.

Real Madrid secured the victory through Brahim Diaz, who scored in first-half injury time. The Morocco international found the net in the 45th minute plus one after receiving a long-range pass from Ukraine goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.

The trophy presented to the winners is designed in the image of the Torre de Hercules, one of the most recognisable landmarks in A Coruna. That inspiration gives the Teresa Herrera cup its imposing dimensions and distinctive shape, making it unlike the conventional trophies usually presented at football tournaments.

Vinicius started the match for Real Madrid, who are preparing for the new season under Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho. The game was played at the Abanca-Riazor stadium in A Coruna, the home ground of Deportivo La Coruna.

Although the result was decided by Diaz’s late first-half goal, the trophy presentation and Vinicius’ apparent reaction became one of the notable talking points surrounding the match. The forward’s exchange with members of the Madrid coaching staff took place after his side had collected the prize.

The Teresa Herrera tournament is one of Spain’s oldest summer friendly competitions. It was first held in 1946, when it was established with the aim of raising donations for people living in poverty.

Its long history and connection with the city of A Coruna have made the competition a traditional part of the Spanish summer football calendar. Real Madrid’s victory added another chapter to that history, while the distinctive trophy provided the backdrop to the post-match moment involving Vinicius.

The match formed part of Real Madrid’s preparations for the forthcoming campaign rather than a competitive fixture. Mourinho’s side left Abanca-Riazor with a narrow win, with Diaz’s finish from Lunin’s extended pass proving enough to settle the contest.

For Vinicius, who had been named in the starting line-up, the discussion after the game appeared to focus less on the scoreline than on the unusual cup awarded to the winners.