Vinicius Junior: The Most Entertaining and Pacy Forward

Vinicius Junior is one of the best and most entertaining footballers in the world. With his pace and trickery, Vini is difficult to contain. Whether for club or country, he is backed by a stellar supporting cast with the likes of Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Jude Bellingham playing alongside him.

From his humble background to the pinnacle of world football, Vini has won almost every trophy in club football. His fight against racism makes his ascent to the top all the more beautiful. Join us as we explore the journey of the electrifying Brazilian star Vini Junior.

Player Profile – Vinicius Junior

Vinicius Junior plays for the Brazilian national team and Real Madrid. He began his football journey with Flamengo’s youth academy. He made his professional debut in 2017 and quickly gained attention for his exceptional speed and dribbling skills.

In 2018, he joined Real Madrid for €45 million, initially playing for the reserve team before breaking into the first team. Known for his blistering pace and flair, Vinicius has become a key player for Real Madrid, with significant contributions in La Liga and the Champions League.

Player Profile Overview

The Early Life of Vinicius Junior

Vinicius José Paixão de Oliveira Júniorwas born on July 12, 2000, in São Gonçalo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to Vinicius José Paixão de Oliveira Sr. and Fernanda Paixão. They raised Vini and his siblings in a modest neighbourhood in São Gonçalo.

Vinicius displayed a passion for football from an early age. His talent was evident as he played street football and participated in local futsal leagues, where his skills began to shine.

From a young age, Vinicius Sr. made substantial sacrifices to ensure Vinicius Jr. could pursue his dreams. This included driving him to training sessions, attending matches, and providing emotional and motivational support. 

Vinicius Junior’s Playing Style

Vinícius Júnior is a dynamic and versatile footballer, primarily playing as a left winger but capable of adapting across the front line.

The Brazilian is known for his explosive pace, agility, and exceptional dribbling skills, he excels in one-on-one situations and maintains excellent ball control at high speeds.

His movement and energy make him a constant threat to defences. Furthermore, his finishing and playmaking abilities contribute significantly to his team’s offensive play.

Vinicius’ defensive work rate and tactical awareness are important aspects of his playing style. His dribbling and creativity have seen him compared to compatriot Neymar. 

Vinicius Junior’s Career Highlights

Vinicius Junior’s football journey started in 2006 when his father took him to Flamengo’s offices in São Gonçalo, where he was registered as a left-back. He moved to Abolição to live with his uncle Ulisses, making it easier to attend training at Ninho do Urubu.

Vini Jr received financial assistance from Flamengo and some entrepreneurs as he came from a poor background. Between 2007 and 2010, Vinícius took futsal classes at Flamengo’s school in São Gonçalo, held at the Canto do Rio club in Niterói. In 2009, at the age of nine, he attended a futsal trial for Flamengo.

Although the club saw his potential, they asked him to return the following year due to his young age. However, Vinícius decided to pursue football instead of futsal and passed his football tests at Flamengo in August 2010, officially starting his career with the club.

First Team Debut With Flamengo

After rising through the youth ranks at Flamengo and impressing the coaches, Vinicius Junior made his debut for Flamengo on May 13, 2017. He came on as a substitute in the 82nd minute during a 1–1 draw against Atlético Mineiro.

Just two days later, he extended his contract with Flamengo until 2022, receiving a significant salary increase and raising his buyout clause from €30 million to €45 million. On August 10, 2017, Vini Jr. scored his first professional goal in a Copa Sudamericana match against Palestino.

His goal came 30 seconds after coming on in the 72nd minute of a 5–0 victory for Flamengo. A few days later, Vinicius Junior scored his first goals in the Brazilian Série A on August 19, helping Flamengo secure a 2–0 win against Atlético Goianiense.

Vinicius Junior Moves to Real Madrid

Real Madrid signed a contract to acquire Vinicius Junior from Flamengo effective after his 18th birthday on July 12 2018. The transfer fee was reportedly €46 million, making it the second most expensive sale in Brazilian football history, only behind Neymar.

Vinicius Junior was officially introduced as a Real Madrid player on 20 July 2018, receiving squad number 28. He made his debut as an 87th-minute substitute in a 0-0 draw against Atletico Madrid.

Vini Jr.’s first start came in a 4-0 Copa del Rey win over Melilla. He provided assists for Marco Asensio and Alvaro Odriozola, earning Man of the Match honours.

Vinicius Junior scored his first goal on 3 November in a 2-0 victory against Real Valladolid. However, his impressive season ended prematurely due to a ligament tear during a match against Ajax.

The following season, Vini Jr. scored his first UEFA Champions League goal in a 3-1 away win over Club Brugge. And he became the youngest non-Spaniard to score in the El Clasico. Vinicius Junior opened the scoring in a 2-0 El Clásico victory against Barcelona on 01 March 2020.

Vini Jr made 29 league appearances and scored three goals as Real Madrid clinched the 2019-20 La Liga title. Vinicius scored twice on 6 April 2021 in a 3-1 victory over Liverpool in the first leg of the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. Real Madrid advanced to the semi-finals but were defeated by eventual champions Chelsea.

Vinicius Junior Wins the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid

Vinícius Junior kicked off the 2021–22 season impressively, notably scoring Real Madrid’s fourth goal in a commanding 4–1 victory over Alavés on the opening day of La Liga.

His performance continued to shine as he netted a brace in a thrilling 3–3 draw against Levante on August 22, securing himself a spot in the first team ahead of Eden Hazard.

Demonstrating his consistency, Vinicius Junior scored a brace in a crucial 2–1 win over Elche, propelling Real Madrid to the top of the La Liga table. These goals marked his sixth and seventh in the league season and his eighth and ninth overall, surpassing his previous season’s total of six goals in just 14 matches.

The Winning Goal in the UEFA Champions League Final

The pinnacle of his season came on May 12, 2022, when he achieved his first hat-trick for Real Madrid in a commanding 6–0 triumph over Levante.

However, his most memorable moment arrived on May 28, when he scored the solitary goal in a 1–0 victory over Liverpool in the Champions League final, securing Madrid their record 14th UEFA Champions League title.

Ending the season on a high note, Vinícius Junior emerged as Real Madrid’s second-highest goalscorer. He scored 22 goals in all competitions only behind his striking partner Karim Benzema.

Vini Jr.’s performances won him the inaugural UEFA Champions League Young Player of the Season award. To crown his achievement, he earned a well-deserved spot in the 2021–22 UEFA Champions League team of the season.

International Career

Vinícius Júnior started his international career with the Brazil’s U-15 team. He starred for them at the South American U-15 Championship.

He helped Brazil win the title with his performances, Vinicius Junior won the Golden Ball as the best player in the tournament. After Vini’s performances at the tournament, Flamengo signed him at age 16.

He moved up to the U17 playing for Brazil in a friendly against Chile’s U-17 team, scoring two goals and providing two assists in a 4–2 victory. In March 2017, Vinicius Junior debuted in the South American U-17 Championship, scoring in a 3–0 win over Peru.

Vini Jr. continued to excel, scoring twice in wins over Ecuador and Colombia. His performances helped Brazil secure a spot in the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Making His Debut for the Senior National Team

Vini Jr. received his first call-up to the Brazil national team in 2019 for friendlies against Panama and the Czech Republic. However, he was injured and replaced by David Neres in the squad. Vinicius Junior made his senior debut for Brazil on 10 September 2019, in a 1-0 defeat to Peru.

Vini Jr. was included in Brazil’s squad for the 2021 Copa America, he made a substitute appearance in the final where Brazil lost 1-0 to Argentina. Vinicius scored his first international goal on 24 March 2022, in a 4-0 win over Chile during a World Cup qualification match.

On 7 November 2022, Vinicius Junior was named in Brazil’s squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He has a good tournament assisting a goal in the 2-0 victory against Serbia.

Vinicius Junior scored his first World Cup goal in a 4-1 win over South Korea, also assisting another goal. However, Croatia eliminated Brazil in the quarter-finals after a penalty shoot-out.

On 26 March 2024, Vini Jr. captained Brazil for the first time in a friendly against Spain at the Santiago Bernabéu, his club’s home stadium. He is expected to represent Brazil at the 2024 Copa America alongside Endrick, Rodrygo and Joao Gomes.

Vinicius Junior’s Personal Life

Vinicius Junior is a huge NBA fan and he frequently wears NBA jerseys. Vini Jr. also features in interviews donning NBA attire. He attended a Miami Heat versus Detroit Pistons game in November 2022, sharing a snapshot of the experience on his Instagram.

Vini has also attended several NBA matches with compatriot Neymar and is good friends with OKC star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The superstars have bonded over their love for fashion.

Vinicius Junior has a non-profit organization, the Vini Jr. Institute. He founded the institute to develop an educational app named BASE, tailored for children aged 6-10.

This app utilizes soccer terminology to assist youngsters in refining their fundamental skills. Furthermore, the institute distributed cell phones equipped with the BASE app to Vini’s former elementary school. 

In a video produced by the charity, Vini expressed gratitude, acknowledging that the institute enables him to reconnect with those who supported him during his adolescence.

This allowed him to reciprocate the affection they showed him. Additionally, in the same video, Vini Jr. disclosed that his favourite movie is the Jackie Chan movie “Karate Kid.”

Influence on Vinicius Junior’s Career

Vinicius Jr. admires Los Blanco legend Cristiano Ronaldo and draws inspiration from the legendary footballer. He mentioned this when taking the Portuguese legend’s old number at Real Madrid.

“I am inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo because I’ve watched all of his games and he marked an era at the club. He’s an idol for me,” Vinicius confessed.

Ronaldo, who donned the iconic white jersey from 2009 to 2018, left an indelible mark on Real Madrid. His tenure was marked by an unprecedented goal-scoring record, numerous titles, and unforgettable moments that inspired a generation of football fans and players alike.

For Vinicius, Ronaldo’s dedication, athleticism, and relentless pursuit of excellence embody the qualities he aspires to emulate.

Vinicius Junior and the First Against Racism

In 2023, Vinicius Junior experienced several racist incidents in Spain, including an effigy of him being hanged in Madrid. Four men were arrested in connection with the effigy.

Vini Jr. criticized La Liga for not addressing racism adequately. Real Madrid condemned the abuse and reported it as a “hate crime.” FIFA appointed Vinicius Junior to lead an anti-racism committee.

The incidents sparked global outrage and support, including condemnation from Brazilian President Lula da Silva and other public figures. Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer statue turned off its lights in solidarity.

An anti-racism law in Brazil, named after Vinicius Junior, was passed to halt sports events during racist incidents. Vinicius received various awards for his humanitarian work and efforts against racism, including the Sócrates Award at the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony.

Conclusion

Vinicius Junior is considered one of the brightest talents in world football. His journey from a promising young talent at Flamengo to a key player at Real Madrid underscores his potential to become one of the game’s greats.

With each season, he continues to develop, and his ambition, combined with his natural ability, suggests that his best years are still ahead of him.

Vinicius is not just a player for the present but a beacon for the future, He symbolizes the blend of raw talent and hard work required to succeed at the highest levels of football. His story is a testament to the magic of the sport and the dreams that drive young athletes to greatness.