Real Madrid Player Ratings: Vinicius Junior dazzles in 5-0 win over Shakhtar

CM Toni Kroos

Toni Kroos’ return to the lineup already occurred, but this felt more like his true return, since he was healthier after missing a significant period of time with pubalgia. Contrary to one uninformed Twitter expert, Kroos is indeed a major key to Real Madrid, and he showed it against Shakhtar. Los Blancos were in command for the first time all season long. Kroos was not the only reason for that, but he was definitely at the heart of it. Call him a conductor or the metronome himself, it doesn’t matter. Everyone will know what you mean.

Rating: 8.5

DM Casemiro

Casemiro was under a microscope after a nightmarish start to the 2021-2022 season, but most people understood his struggles were due to a combination of fatigue, fitness in the other midfielders, and overall defensive scheme. With all those ingredients back in place, Casemiro shined as he usually does. He played a perfect game defensively and was markedly better offensively. Per WhoScored.com, the Brazilian completed nearly 94 percent of his passes, including one flick that actually came off.

Rating: 8.0

CM Luka Modric

Luka Modric plays his best football when the other two members of the midfield trio are at their best, and the same can be said from the perspectives of Toni Kroos and Casemiro, too. The Croatian magician waved his magic wand and hit Vinicius with a delightful assist that left Shakhtar’s defense dumbfounded. Modric’s ball-carrying and movement were crucial to aiding Rodrygo and Vini in finding pockets of space centrally in this tactical gameplan.

Rating: 8.0