Vinícius Júnior is 26 years old in 2026, born on 12 July 2000. Brazil Forward for Real Madrid.
| Appearances | 3 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 2 |
| Yellow Cards | 1 |
| Red Cards | — |
| Goals / Match | 0.33 |
📖 Vinícius Júnior: Biography & Story
The samba spirit of Real Madrid: Ballon d'Or winner and Brazil's finest.
Vinicius Júnior arrived at Real Madrid from Flamengo for €45 million in 2018 as a 17-year-old widely seen as one of the most promising teenagers in world football. His first two seasons were difficult. He was direct and exciting but inconsistent, and his finishing was criticised. What happened next was one of the most extraordinary public developments in modern football.
Under Carlo Ancelotti's patient management and with the creative freedom that Real Madrid's system provides, Vinicius became one of the most feared attackers in Europe. He scored the winning goal in the 2022 UEFA Champions League final against Liverpool. He scored in the 2024 Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund. He won the 2024 Ballon d'Or.
Away from football, Vinicius has been one of the most vocal athletes in the world about racism. He has endured sustained racist abuse from Spanish football crowds, and rather than staying quiet, he took legal action, called out LaLiga and the Spanish football federation and forced significant structural conversations. His combination of exceptional talent and social courage makes him one of the most important figures in modern sport.
🗺️ Career Journey
Joined academy at 7; made senior debut at 16; sold to Real Madrid
€45m; UCL winner 2022, 2024; Ballon d'Or 2024
🏆 Honours & Achievements
👨👩👦 Personal Life & Family
Vinícius José Paixão de Oliveira Júnior, known as Vinícius Júnior or simply Vini Jr, was born on 12 July 2000 in São Gonçalo, a large, working-class city on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. He grew up in a poor neighbourhood and was discovered by Flamengo scouts at just seven years old. His natural talent and willingness to practise for hours every day earned him a scholarship to Flamengo's academy, where he lived and trained full-time from a young age.
Vinicius's family is from São Gonçalo and sacrificed significantly to support his football journey. His parents moved to allow him to pursue football in Flamengo's residential academy. He has siblings and remains close to his family in Brazil. He has spoken repeatedly about his roots and the importance of representing the community he grew up in. He is very close to his national teammates from Brazil and is deeply embedded in Brazilian football culture. He has been in a relationship with Maria Júlia Mazalli, a Brazilian model.
💡 Did You Know?: Vinícius Trivia
He scored the winning goal in the 2022 Champions League final against Liverpool: one of the most important goals in Real Madrid's modern history.
He grew up in São Gonçalo, one of the most densely populated cities in Rio de Janeiro state, in a very modest family environment.
He was signed by Real Madrid as a 17-year-old for €45 million: a then-extraordinary fee for a teenager who had barely played professional football.
He has been the most vocal professional footballer about racism in Spain, taking legal action against clubs and fans and calling out football's governing bodies publicly.
His dancing celebration, spontaneous, joyful, distinctly Brazilian, became one of the most recognised celebrations in world football.
Vinícius Júnior has 1 goal and 2 assists this season. A solid Fantasy XI pick from Real Madrid.
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