Vinicius Jr has captured the hearts of many, and for his supporters, it’s clear that it’s only a matter of when he will reach the pinnacle of football greatness. Recently, the Real Madrid forward faced a setback by finishing second behind Rodri in the Ballon d’Or, despite being a favorite. This decision sparked outrage, with Real Madrid boycotting the ceremony and Brazilian journalists labeling it an injustice.
“I’ll do it 10x if I have to. They’re not ready.”
— Vinicius Jr
Before facing AC Milan in the Champions League, Vinicius is determined to prove that this setback is merely a blip on his path to success. His former coach, Carlos Noval, praised his courage:
“He has an incredible courage; he always had.”
Vinicius has come a long way since his youth days in São Gonçalo, Brazil. Despite growing up in a city plagued by violence and drug gangs, his move to Spain at 18 brought new challenges. Since joining Real Madrid, La Liga has referred 21 racist incidents involving him to prosecutors due to persistent abuse from fans.
In June, justice was served when three Valencia fans were sentenced to eight months in prison for hate crimes against Vinicius—marking a significant step against racism in Spanish football.
“I’m not a victim of racism. I’m the tormentor of racists.”
— Vinicius Jr
Despite emotional tolls from these incidents, Vinicius has emerged as a leading voice against racism in football. In the 2023-24 season, he achieved remarkable statistics with 24 goals and nine assists in 39 matches. He also broke Lionel Messi’s record as the youngest player to score in multiple Champions League finals at just 23 years and 325 days.
Notably, he started this campaign strong with eight goals and five assists in just 15 games for Real Madrid. Critics who once doubted his abilities are now silenced.
Former players have compared him to legends; Emilio Butragueno even likened him to Pele, highlighting his incredible mental strength amidst challenges:
“To have gone through everything he has and still be able to showcase all his football? That’s remarkable.”
Vinicius Jr’s journey hasn’t been easy—he faced skepticism upon joining Real Madrid—but he has consistently proven doubters wrong while maintaining his trademark smile. His joy on and off the pitch continues to inspire many.
Vinicius Junior had an impressive season with Real Madrid, netting 24 goals in 39 matches across all competitions. However, his exclusion from the Ballon d’Or spotlight has sparked criticism from both journalists and politicians in Brazil, especially after Rodri of Manchester City was awarded the title instead.
Trump’s Tariff Plans: A Day-One Agenda Against Drug and Human Trafficking In a bold move to combat drug and human smuggling, President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to impose significant tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China immediately after his inauguration on January 20.