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Vinicius found something to smile about when his goal helped Real Madrid into the final of the World Club Cup.

It was the Brazilian winger who scored the goal that won the Champions League final against Liverpool last year that qualified Real Madrid for this competition, and it was Vinicius who did the most to send them into Saturday’s final scoring the first in this 4-1 win.

The 22-year-old winger looked relaxed in Morocco in the semi-final, far from the noise of another case of racist abuse against him in La Liga. And in the absence of the injured Karim Benzema he stood up when his side needed him aided by compatriot Rodrygo who got the third.

This week back in Spain, Madrid police had identified six people they believe were responsible for hanging a mannequin with a Vinicius shirt from a bridge in the Spanish capital ahead of the Madrid derby. 

And La Liga submitted a complaint to the Public Prosecutor regarding racist abuse aimed at Vinicius in Mallorca at the weekend. The Brazil international has been vocal on social media about feeling not enough is being done to punish those responsible and eradicate the problem. 

He is not helped by the scandalous inference from some quarters that his behavior has somehow contributed to him being singled out.

But this was a night away from the Spanish spotlight. Vinicius also won a second half penalty but Luka Modric had his stopped kick save leaving Madrid to suffer through eight minutes of added time.

They had made hard work of it when, after Fede Valverde’s excellent second, Eduardo Camavinga gave away a penalty and Ali Maaloul scored it to narrow the margin. Rodrygo's late goal confirmed their victory.

Real Madrid will play Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal after beating the African Champions in the Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium – they were not at their best but it was enough to see them through.